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PATIENT  CONTINUANCE  IN  WELL-DOING: 


MEMOIR 


ELIHU  W.  BALDWIN,  D.  D, 

FIRST  PASTOH,  OF  THE  SEVENTH  PBESBTTEBIAN  CHURCH,  NEW-TORE, 
AND  FIRST  PRESIDENT  OF  WABASH  COLLEGE. 


BY       ^ 

REV.    EDWIN    F.    HATFIELD 


WITH   AN    INTRODUCTION 


SAMUEL  HANSON  COX,  D.  D. 


NEW-YORK: 
JONATHAN    LEAVITT, 

194   BROADWAY. 
1843. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1&43,  by 

EDWIN    F.    HATFIELD, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of 

New- York. 


University  Press : 
JOHN  F.  TROW,  PRINTER, 

114  Nassau-street, 
New- York. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 
IXTEODLXTION,       --....  3 

CHAPTER  I. 

Parentage. — Birth.— Early  Childhood.— Youth.— Early  Educa- 
tion.— Leaves  liome  for  College,  -  -  -  25 

CHAPTER  II. 

Conversion. — Diary  commenced. — Profession  of  Religion,     35 

CHAPTER  III. 

Spiritual  Experience. — Pious  Resolutions. — Deep  Waters. — 
Faint,  yet  pursuing. — Pecuniary  Embarrassments. — Leaves 
College  for  a  season. — Assists  Rev.  Dr.  Backus  as  teacher. — - 
Growth  in  grace,         -  -  ...  45 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Leaves'Bethlem. — Short  abode  at  Litchfield. — Removes  to  Fair- 
field.— Reverence  for  Dr.  Dwight. — Rules  for  self-examina- 
tion.— Visits  his  native  place. — Returns  to  College. — Revisits 
Durham. — Teacher  at  Wopdbridge,  Conn. — Ophthalmia. — 
Finishes  his  college-course,  -  -  -  75 

CHAPTER  V  . 

Takes  charge  of  the  Academy  at  Fairfield. — His  religious  expe- 
rience while  at  F. — Testimonials,  -  -  106 


iv  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Enters  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  Mass. — Visit  to  Dr 
Emmons. — Journey   to    Connecticut. — Prepares    a    Tract. — 
Tests  of  Love  to  Christ. — Licensed  to   preach. — Labors   at 
Nottingham. — Ordination,  *    -  -  -  123 

CHAPTER  VII. 

New- York  city  in  1S17.— Efforts  to  extend  the  Gospel  there.— 
Mr.  B.  engages  to  labor  as  a  City-Missionary. — Journey  to 
New-York,  ...  -  -  168 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  scene  of  his  labors. — Changes  his  location. — Description  of 
his  new  field  of  labor. — Early  Missionary  efforts  there. — Rou- 
tine of  weekly  labors. — Cheering  results  of  his  preaching. — 
Unexpected  trials. — Organization  of  the  Seventh  Presbyterian 
Church, 179 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Measures  taken  to  build  a  house  of  worship. — Visit  to  Durham. 
— Thinks  of  the  West. — Corner-stone  of  the  church  laid- — A 
rival  house  of  worship  built  near. — Commences  worship  in 
the  basement  of  the  new  church.— Conciliatory  course. — Op- 
position ceases.— A  reviving.— Pecuniary  embarrassments  — 
Marriage,         ------  202 

CHAPTER  X. 

Pecuniary  troubles. — The  prospect  brightens. — Birth  of  a  son. — 
Visits  Connecticut. — House  of  worship  completed. — Installa- 
tion.— A  season  of  revival. — Death  of  his  first-born. — Visit  to 
Pittsfield,  Mass. — Becomes  Secretary  of  the  Missionary  So- 


ciety, 


235 


CONTENTS.  V 

CHAPTER  XL 

A  General  Revival  in  the  city. — United  Domestic  Missionary 
Society  formed.— Yellow  Fever. — Birth  of  a  daughter. — La- 
bors in  a  Revival  at  Greenwich,  Con. — Also  at  Newark,  N. 
J. — Visit  to  his  parents,  in  Ohio.— Spiritual  dearth  in  the 
church.— Almost  discouraged. — Declines  a  call  to  Jamaica, 
L.  I. — Project  of  selling  the  old,  and  building  a  new,  house  of 
worship,  --..-.  251 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

Commences  the  work  of  building  a  new  house  of  worship. — 
Labors  in  a  Revival  at  Hartford,  Con. — Visit  to  Boston. — 
New  church  completed, — Labors  in  Dr.  Skinner's  church, 
Philadelphia. — Views  of  Slavery  and  Intemperance. — The 
Great  Revival  in  1831.— Church  burnt  down,  -  274 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Measures  to  rebuild, — Fruits  of  the  Revival. — Church  rebuilt. — 
Another  Revival. — Cholera. — Proposals  for  a  removal. — Ori- 
gin of  Wabash-College. — Consents  to  become  its  President. — 
Loss  of  a  child. — Pastoral  relation  dissolved. — Retrospect,  289 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Visit  to  Boston. — College- Agency — Journey  to  Crawfordsville. 
— Entrance  on  his  Presidency. — Inauguration. — Agency  in 
Indiana, — Death  of  a  son. — ^^Severe  sickness. — Pastoral  letter 
to  his  former  charge. — Revival  among  them,  and  planting  of 
a  new  church. — A  second  Revival. — Visit  to  New- York. — Re- 
turns home, — Revival  in  College. — Call  to  a  church  in  New- 
York. — Exscinding  General  Assembly. — Second  visit  to  New- 
York.— College-edifice  burned  down.  -  -  312 
1 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Equanimity  in  Distress. — Visit  to  the  East  protracted. — Returns 
home. — Agency  in  Indiana. — Call  from  Indianapolis. — Bac- 
calaureate.—Doctorated. — Third  journey  to  the  East. — Plea 
for  Western  Colleges. — Returns  home. — Commencement. — 
Agency  in  Indiana.— Sickness. — Death.  -  -  363 


INTKODUCTION 


It  is  not  of  every  man,  nor  even  of  every  distinguished 
or  great  or  useful  man,  that  the  biography  should  be  written 
and  given  to  the  public.  Better  for  the  world,  better  for 
posterity,  if  the  lives  of  thousands  of  the  noble,  the  envied, 
the  illustrious  even,  viere  forgotten  or  unknown— if  their 
names  were  buried  in  oblivion.  The  great  reason  is,  that 
whatever  streaks  of  glory  or  specific  excellence  adorned 
them,  the  evil  is  greater  than  the  good,  their  vices  predomi- 
nate in  the  picture,  their  examples  are  at  once  bewitching 
and  mischievous.  If  it  is  the  end  and  use  of  biography  to 
benefit  mankind,  to  improve  the  living,  and  to  mould  the 
manners  of  coming  ages,  in  accordance  with  the  best  stand- 
ards and  the  finest  specimens  of  attainable  virtue,  then  is  it 
obvious  why  the  lives  of  good  men,  and  ordinarily  of  good 
men  only,  ought  to  be  given  to  their  contemporaries  and 
preserved  for  the  imitation  of  future  generations.  And 
this  seems  to  be  the  meaning  of  the  inspired  sentiment ;  The 
memory  of  the  just  is  blessed,  but  the  name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot. 

It  is  with  impressions  of  this  sort  that  we  welcome  the 
forthcoming  memoir,  of  one  whose  biography,  or  the  general 
principles  and  acts  of  whose  life,  ought  to  be  published  that 
they  may  become  the  possession  of  the  community.  The 
late  Elihu  W.  Baldwin,  D.  D.  the  preacher,  the  pastor, 
and  the  president,  was  a  person  of  rare  attainments  and  ac- 
complished excellence.     The  present  writer  knew  him  well 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

from  the  year  1818  till  his  late  lamented  death ;  and  is  qual- 
ified in  tWs  respect  to  sketch  the  outline  of  his  character. 
Would  that  he  were  equally  competent  to  do  justice  to  a 
finished  portrait !  There  are  few  men  that  have  died  in  the 
present  century,  whose  excellencies  were  so  exomplary,  so 
consistent,  and  so  heavenly ;  and  the  whole  combination  of 
whose  personal  qualities  presented  a  fairer  example  for  the 
imitation  of  youth,  for  the  edification  of  age,  or  for  the  useful 
contemplation  of  all  readers. 

Without  much  that  would  be  esteemed  brilliant  or  lauded 
as  great,  liis  mind  w^as  vigorous  and  well-disciplined,  its 
productions  were  always  respectable  and  sound,  its  tenden- 
cies were  useful  and  amiable,  and  as  its  exhibitions  always 
sustained  the  character  of  its  possessor,  so  they  warranted 
and  conciliated  the  confidence  of  the  pubhc.  In  its  different 
positions  and  spheres  of  service,  in  its  varying  aspects  and 
relations  of  trial,  few  minds  have  shown  such  uniformity  of 
excellence,  such  sameness  of  character  in  the  constant  and 
trying  vicissitudes  of  circumstances,  such  equanimity  of  wis- 
dom, of  patience,  and  of  faith  in  God.  Hence  he  had  in- 
fluence wherever  he  went — illustrative  of  the  sentiment  of 
some  author,  that  influence,  especially  in  a  minister  of  Christ, 
is  mainly  constituted  of  four  qualities,  with  their  due  propor- 
tions, combinations,  and  manifestations,  in  active  life ;  and 
these  are — benevolence,  consistency,  humility,  prosperity. 
The  last  refers  to  one's  success  in  what  he  undertakes,  in- 
ferring some  of  the  attributes  of  a  master,  as  contradistinguish- 
ed from  those  who  possess  all  good  qualities  in  general  or  in 
the  abstract,  but  in  action,  or  the  conduct  of  matters,  owing 
to  some  faulty  causes,  generallj^  fail,  and  so  disappoint  the 
hope  they  knew  too  well  how  to  raise  and  expand.  The 
second  quality,  in  an  inverse  order,  is  necessary  to  prevent 
envy,  suspicion,  and  that  vain  ambition  which  is  ever  busy 
and  importunate  in  its  sinuous  works,  where  it  is  not  super- 
seded by  a  genuine  evangelical  humiHty.  The  third  is  ne- 
cessary to  give  a  definition  to  the  whole  man,  showing  that 
his  virtues  are  not  the  fitful  episodes  of  his  way  or  the  mere 
exceptions  to  the  tenor  of  his  living  character.  And  the 
fourth  shows,  as  it  were,  the  source  or  the  soul  of  all  his  other 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

excellencies,  that  piety  towards  God  and  the  philanthropy 
of  Christ  transfused  into  his  bosom,  have  made  it  the  citadel 
of  the  graces  and  the  temple  of  devotion.  The  man  who 
possesses  these  four  qualities  and  evinces  them  in  the  duties 
of  the  ministry,  public  and  private,  must  have  influence.  He 
deserves  it ;  that  influence  is  safe  and  of  the  best  kind,  as  its 
sphere  also  is  noble,  elevated,  incomparable!  Such  an  influ- 
ence had  our  beloved  brother — and  who  so  debauched  or  de- 
graded in  character  as  ever  to  grudge  it  to  him  ?  He  was  not 
the  man  to  abuse  it, — no  one  suspected  his  motives.  All  men 
listened  to  his  speech,  since,  with  no  pretending  atlectation, 
there  was  a  commanding  power  in  it  the  dignit}^  of  goodness, 
the  eloquence  of  love,  the  persuasion  and  the  voice  of  wis- 
dom ;  a  fellow-servant,  with  a  fellow-feeling,  persuading  his 
fellow  creatures  in  the  way  of  salvation. 

It  is  common  for  men  of  regulated  minds  and  in  all  profes- 
sions, to  have  each  a  paragon,  an  individual  that  is  made  the 
standard  of  imitation,  as  it  were  the  impersonation  of  an  ideal 
excellence.  True,  in  the  supreme  respect,  a  minister  of  Christ 
ought  ever  to  make  his  blessed  Master  his  only  paragon, 
and  aim  at  conformity  to  so  high  a  model  in  all  his  conduct 
And  few  ministers  of  the  Son  of  God,  perhaps,  in  our  day, 
came  nearer  in  this,  to  what  ought  to  be,  than  Dr.  Bald^^nn. 
He  studied  the  character  of  Christ,  took  him  as  his  example 
as  well  as  his  propitiation,  and  sighed  ingenuously  as  he  saw 
and  felt  the  defects  which  measured  the  difference  between 
all  that  was  and  all  that  ought  to  be.  Still,  in  subordinate 
relations,  he  had  a  human  paragon  whom  he  imitated,  as  w^ell 
as  honored,  in  a  degree  extraordinary,  perhaps  unequalled. 
This  was  none  other  than  his  revered  preceptor  and  friend, 
the  late  President  of  Yale  College,  Dr.  Dwight.  And  truly 
he  could  not  have  found  in  our  whole  countr\\  probably,  a 
better  example  of  varied  excellence.  He  showed  the  gener- 
ous and  elevated  aspirations  of  his  own  mind,  in  selecting 
such  a  standard.  He  vaunted  not  his  preference.  Not  every 
one  knew  his  secret  homage  to  the  character  of  that  distin- 
guished man.  Without  servility,  idolatry,  or  superstition,  he 
venerated  and  strove  to  resemble  him,  in  every  attainable 
excellence.     In  theolog}^,  in  science,  in  principles  and  max- 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

ims,  in  manners  and  habits,  in  sentiments,  and  above  all  in 
piet}'',  he  copied  President  Dwight — sometimes,  possibly, 
even  to  a  fault.  In  the  main,  however,  it  was  well  done,  and 
his  whole  character  realized  the  advantage. 

In  the  whole  curriculmn  of  his  college  life,  he  had  felt  the 
weight,  as  well  as  rejoiced  in  the  light,  of  that  gigantic  and 
accomplished  mind,  that  presided  over  it  with  such  distin- 
guished ability ;  and  the  impression  he  retained  of  it  was 
complete  and  mdelible.  In  all  the  relations  and  duties  of 
professional  life,  in  his  studies,  his  manners,  his  sentiments, 
his  intercourse  with  ministerial  brethren,  his  behavior  in  the 
domestic  circle,  and  even  in  liis  recreations — which  were 
few  and  moderate,  the  image  of  that  incomparable  man, 
that  dignified  and  consistent  Christian,  that  learned  and  ir- 
resistible preacher,  tliat  amiable  and  richly  communicative 
companion,  that  affectionate  husband  and  venerable  lather, 
the  image  of  his  excellent  preceptor  seemed  ever  present  be- 
fore him.  And  when  himself  acceded  to  the  duties  of  a  pres- 
ident, where,  in  his  brief  but  bright  career,  he  bo  justly  en- 
deared himself  to  his  associates  of  the  faculty,  to  his  admir- 
ing students,  and  to  the  whole  community,  who  felt  his 
presence  as  a  signal  acquisition  and  mourned  his  exit  as  a 
public  loss,  his  recollections,  contemplations,  and  imitations, 
of  the  mature  and  useful  wisdom  of  President  Dwight,  were 
among  the  unseen  but  efficient  causes  of  his  great  success, 
of  his  universal  as  well  as  solid  popularity.  Few  students 
of  the  many  hundreds  of  Yalenses,  who  enjoyed  the  bene- 
fits of  his  able  and  energetic  administration,  ever  observed 
or  studied  their  president,  or  perhaps  appreciated  him,  at 
once  so  highly  and  so  justly,  as  Dr.  Baldwin.  Few  were  so 
well  acquainted  with  his  whole  character,  its  springs  and 
principles,  its  general  bearings  and  its  minute  accomphsh- 
ments,  its  heights  and  its  depths  of  genuine  piety.  He  felt 
deeply  its  excellence,  and  as  really  its  attraction.  And  with- 
out idolatry  or  servility,  he  so  v^alued,  so  remembered,  so 
copied,  that  bright  star  of  literature  and  piety,  so  signal,  so 
illustrious,  and  so  truly  vernacular,  that  it  were  not  w^onder- 
ful  if  he  reaped  much  advantage  from  his  ingenuous  pains- 
taking,  if    he   somewhat    resembled   whom  he   so    much 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

revered,  if  he  shone  with  a  kindred  lustre,  and  became  him- 
self a  star  of  honor  and  effulgence  in  the  commercial  metrop- 
olis of  our  country,  before  he  changed  his  habitation  and  set 
so  prematurely  in  the  West. 

Let  no  man  ask  us  if  Dr.  Baldwin  was  a  faultless  being  ? 
If  he  had  nothing  but  excellencies  and  virtues  !  There  is  no 
need  of  the  question,  no  sense  in  it.  We  are  not  to  deny 
his  defects  as  a  man,  his  unworthiness  as  a  sinner,  his  im- 
perfections as  a  Christian,  however  impressed  we  may  be 
mainly  with  his  worthy  qualities,  as  one  of  the  best  even 
among  the  disciples  of  the  Lamb.  But  this  we  say,  that, 
ii"  any  of  his  friends  knew  one  of  his  faults,  that  one  and 
comparatively  ^11  others,  were  much  more  known,  and 
with  sincere  humiliation,  to  himself.  His  virtues  were 
in  the  main  all  by  which  any  beholder  or  acquaintance 
could  be  impressed ;  and  these  we  would  commemorate,  as 
the  works  that  follow  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 

1.  He  was,  in  the  estimation  of  all  who  knew  him,  a  true 
and  exemplary  Christian.  Who  ever  knew  what  a  Christian 
is,  and  knew  him,  and  doubted  it  ?  We  suppose,  no  one. 
In  this  respect  his  piety  was  sterling.  It  was  the  sense  of 
the  community  everywhere,  in  proportion  as  he  was  known. 
Many  were  wont  to  say  of  him.  Look  at  that  man  and  doubt 
the  truth  of  Christian  piety,  if  you  can.  Others,  If  you  want 
to  know  what  a  Christian  is,  look  at  Dr.  Baldwin,  study  his 
character,  make  his  acquaintance.  This,  we  know,  is  high 
panegyric ;  yet  it  is  the  truth.  Would  that  all  disciples,  or 
even  all  ministers  of  Christ,  attained  to  this  class,  and  were 
such  living  epistles  of  €hrist,  knoivn  and  read  of  all  men !  Yet 
some  ministers  are  very  equivocal  specimens  of  piety ;  and 
some  are  scarcely  suspected,  by  those  who  know  them,  of 
being  sincere  and  cordial  Christians ;  and  some  are  supposed, 
by  the  majority  of  all  who  know  them,  to  be  any  other  thing 
rather  than  Christians — they  are  scholars,  theologians, 
wranglers,  bigots,  gentlemen,  orators,  pastors,  and  possibly 
moderators  of  ecclesiastical  councils  or  presidents  of  col- 
leges ;  but  the  best  judges,  and  the  most  truly  benevolent 
men,  most  disallow  their  claims  to  genuine  piety,  even  when 
they  say  nothing,  and  desire  to  judge  nothing  befcrethe  time. 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

In  a  confidential  conversation  with  Dr.  Baldwin,  the  wri- 
ter well  recollects  some  remarks  of  his  on  the  topic  of  regen- 
eration, connected  with  his  own  experience,  illastrative  of 
the  doctrine,  and  edifying  to  the  Christian.     He  spoke  of  his 
previous  exercises,  his  conviction  of  sin,  the  gloom  of  his 
mind,  the  misery  of  his  state,  and  the  impenetrable  mystery 
in  which  every  thing  in  religion  seemed  shrouded.     Espe- 
cially did  the  subject  of  regeneration  seem  mysterious  and 
unsatisfactory,  while  its  general  truth,  as  plainly  revealed, 
was   indubitable.    After   a   melancholy   time,   said  he,   in 
which  I  was  quarantined  without  i/jeg-a/esr/^/je  city,  till  God 
saw  that  the  discipline  was  successful  to  humble  and  subdue 
me.  all  at  once,  the  character  of  God  caugl^t  my  attention. 
I  discerned  him  as  good,  just, merciful,  majestic,  condescend- 
ing, gracious,  and  immutable,  especially  as  displayed  to  us 
in  the  system  of  redemption  ;   and  the  object  absorbed  me. 
I  forgot  myself     I  literally  forgot  my  misery.     The  horizon 
of  my  soul  was  enlarged,  and  extended  from  earth  to  heaven. 
Immediately  I  began  to  adore  so  grand  and  glorious  a  God 
Almighty.  My  soul  said— Worthy,  excellent,  blessed  being ! 
How'well  it  is  for  the  universe  that  he  is  on  the^throne  !     Let 
me  go  and  congratulate  all  the  angels  of  light,  all  the  sons  of 
the  morning  in  heaven,  that  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth. 
At  length,  when  I  seemed  to  return,  by  reflection,  earthward, 
ffom  this  waking  vision,  I  thought,  what  fools  men  are  not 
to  partake  of  heaven's  joy,  and  be  glad  too  in  his  all  perfect 
dominion  1     What  will  they  ever  gain  by  hating  him  !     He 
is  wise  in  heart  and  mighty  in  strength  ;  who  hath  hardened  him- 
self against  God,  and  hath  prospered?     At  all  events  I  love 
him,  and  will  love  his  infinite  loveliness  forever  !  God  is  love. 
Instantly,  said  he,  it  occurred  to  me,  that  I  loved  him ! 
I  was  therefore  regenerated ;  for  he  that  loveth  is  begotten  of 
God  and  knoweth  God !    With  wonder,  love,  and  praise,  I  in- 
q^^ired— Is   this  all?     Am  I   indeed  begotten  of  the  Spirit? 
Why  did  I  not  love  him  sooner  ?     How  simple,  how  easy, 
how  reasonable,  how  comfortable,  to  love  God !     All  men 
ought  to  love  him.     They  were  made  for  this,  and  they 
were  redeemed  for  this.     I  will  try  to  convince  them  of  it, 
and  to  subserve  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  in  bringing  them 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

to  it.     This  shall  be,  if  the  will  of  God  be  so,  the  work  of 
my  life. 

The  mystery  of  regeneration  was  now  removed.  Having 
experienced  the  thing,  he  could  understand  the  doctrine. 
The  vail  on  the  face  of  the  sacred  writers  no  more  existed — 
because  the  vail  had  been  taken  away  from  his  own  heart. 
Henceforth  the  doctrine  of  regeneration  was  very  precious 
to  him.  He  was  always  clear,  and  mighty,  and  estabhshed 
in  it,  not  to  be  moved.  It  pervaded  and  characterized  all 
his  ministrations.  In  his  sermons,  his  prayers,  his  conversa- 
tion, his  manners,  he  nobly  exemplified  alike  the  simplicity 
and  the  sublimity  of  the  genuine  doctrine.  One  might  much 
better  attend  to  any  of  his  ordinary  sermons  on  the  subject, 
to  become  instructed  in  its  true  nature,  than  to  peruse  and 
study  all  the  Tractarians  of  Oxford,  and  all  that  Romanize 
with  them,  a  thousand  years  ;  for  the  truth  had  made  him  free 
and  clear  and  true. 

2.  He  was  a  man  and  a  Christian  of  uncommon,  equanimity 
and  consistency.  The  reason  was  mainly — that  he  was  prin- 
cipled in  all  things ;  and  his  principles,  conversing  with 
things  unseen  and  eternal.,  were  fed  and  made  by  the  un- 
changeable truth  of  God.  Self-denial  and  self-government 
were  with  him  habitual.  He  walked  with  God.  Hence  his 
piety  was  invariable,  cheerful,  and  identical.  In  this  respect  he 
had  few  equals.  His  faith  in  God  delighted  in  the  truth ; 
and  it  was  steady  and  symmetrical.  He  seemed  always 
contented,  and  always  ready  to  serve  his  Master.  Without 
passion,  without  spasm,  without  extravagance,  and  xvith  no 
fanaticism,  he  was  a  shining  example  of  Christian  piet}'-  and 
a  good  illustration  of  the  life  of  faith.     Hence, 

3.  He  was  distinguished  for  amiable  and  correct  manners. 
His  natural  temperament  was  singularly  happy,  the  proper 
ground- work  for  piety  in  some  of  its  most  engaging  attrac- 
tions. But  all  this  was  mellowed  and  refined  by  the  peace  of 
God  and  the  hope  of  glory.  His  countenance  beamed  with 
love.  Religion's  radiance  lighted  up  his  features,  and  shed 
a  sheen  but  soft  eflulgence  over  them.  His  smile  vras  benev- 
olence ;  and  it  was  ever  ready  to  emit  its  pleasantness,  as 
the  representative  of  profound  peace  and  pleasure  in  his  own 

1* 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

bosom.  He  was  pacific,  bland,  and  obliging,  to  every  hu- 
man being.  To  quarrel  with  him — if  this  was  ever  done — 
was  to  ply  the  laboring  oar  alone.  The  combatant  must  do 
it  all  himself.  He  could  get  no  fuel  for  his  fire,  no  food  for 
his  feeling,  no  help  in  his  wrath,  from  one  so  godlike  in  his 
kindness  and  his  elevation.  He  seemed  to  inhabit  higher 
and  serener  regions — on  the  top  of  the  sun-lighted  mountain, 
where,  at  a  safe  distance,  he  could  see  the  clouds  condense, 
and  the  lightnings  gleam,  or  he^ir  the  rains  descending  and 
the  thunders  rolling,  below  him.  He  abominated  war  as  the 
horrible  opprobrium  of  Christendom  ;  and  the  pen  of  Pacifi- 
cus  was  notorious  and  honorable  as  the  pubhc  denouncer  ot 
its  barbarian  wickedness.  Ejus  mores  cuique  fortunas  suas 
faciunt,  is  a  motto  that  received  an  honorable  illustration  in 
him  ;  the  manners  of  a  man  are  the  arbiters  of  his  success 
in  life.  The  manners  of  Dr.  Baldwin  were  a  universal  pass- 
port. Little  children,  as  well  as  their  parents,  loved  his  com- 
pany, and  were  attracted  by  his  winning  attentions.  Nothing 
rough,  austere,  or  arrogant,  was  to  be  seen  in  all  his  carriage 
and   conduct. 

4.  He  was  a  man  of  self-denial  and  economy.  As  a  practi- 
cal economist  of  all  he  had,  few  equalled  him.  His  money, 
his  time,  his  talents,  his  incidental  opportunities  of  usefulness, 
were  all  used  wisely  and  on  system.  In  the  earher  periods 
of  his  pastoral  service,  his  income  was  quite  disproportion- 
ately small  for  the  support  of  Ms  family  ;  yet  all  was  ordered 
so  wisely  and  well,  though  this  was  much  owing  to  the  cor- 
responding aid  of  his  excellent  partner  in  life,  that  he  seemed 
to  be  content  not  only,  but  to  possess  a  competence.  Were 
the  details  of  his  trials  and  his  charities  in  these  times,  all 
minutely  written  and  given  to  the  pubhc,  the  result  would  be 
interesting,  instructive,  and  even  wonderful.  He  was  a  pat- 
tern of  frugality  without  meanness,  and  of  beneficence  with- 
out ostentation. 

5.  He  was  a  steadfast  and  genuine  friend.  This  is  saying 
much  of  any  man  ;  especially  in  times  like  ours !  He  was 
honest,  heart^',  and  durable,  as  well  as  discriminating  and 
select,  in  all  his  confidential  attachments.  He  was  not  in- 
deed swilt  or  eager  to  enter  into  the   intimacies  of  friend- 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


ship.  He  feared  false  friends  and  false  brethren ;  hence,  he 
paused,  and  pondered,  before  he  settled  hisj  friendship  on 
any  person.  But  where  it  was  deserved  and  given,  it  was 
singularly  constant,  tender,  and  unchangeable.  He  was 
wary  without  being  suspicious ;  and  whenever  he  found 
himself  deceived,  he  withdrew  his  friendship  decisively— yet 
not  without  pain  and  a  permanent  wound  !  This  rarely, 
though  really,  occurred  ******* 
We  need  not  say  that  his  standard  of  friendship  was  high 
and  heavenly  ;  that  it  was  not  made  of  pohtics  or  motives  of 
worldly  advantage  and  expediency ;  that  it  was  ever  founded 
on  his  persuasion  of  moral  excellence  in  the  character  of  its 
object ;  and  that  its  cordial  flame  burned  inextinguishably, 
bright  and  warm,  on  the  altar  of  his  heart.  It  was  balmy, 
soothing,  confidential,  and  delightful.  There  was  heart  in 
it — and  how  much  better  was  it  than  all  the  prim  formality 
of  the  got-up  friendship  that  abounds  in  the  world  !  The 
man  who  could  deliberately  despise,  or  voluntarily  forfeit 
such  a  friend,  ought  seriously  to  fear  or  examine  the  nature 
of  his  friendship  lor  the  Redeemer.  He  was  so  true  a  friend, 
that,  when  he  died,  the  chasm  was  felt  in  a  large  and  wound- 
ed circle.  How  many  felt  it  and  said  it, — I  have  lost  a  friend! 

No  marble  marks  his  couch  of  lowly  sleep, 
But  living  statues  there  arf  seen  to  weep. 

6.  Farther,  we  characterize  him  as  a  correct  and  ripe  scho- 
lar. His  course  in  college  was  well  and  usefully  improved  ; 
and  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  well  prepared  to 
profit  by  its  high  advantages.  In  the  languages  especially, 
as  professionally  valuable,  and  in  this  relation  highly  ap- 
preciated, his  attainments  were  solid  and  thorough.  In 
Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  he  appeared  everywhere  at 
home,  and  he  constantly  used  his  advantages  in  his  official 
duties  not  only,  but  maintained  those  regular  habits  of  study 
and  that  progressive  general  preparation  for  the  pulpit 
which  are  at  once  so  important,  nay,  so  necessary,  to 
a  permanent  and  growing  respectabihty  in  the  active  duties 
of  the  ministry,  and  so  shamefully  neglected,  in  many  in- 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

stances,  by  those  on  whom  the  best  preUminary  advantages 
have  been  comparatively  thrown  away.  He  loved  learning 
for  the  sake  of  its  just  subserviency  to  the  grander  aims  of 
pious  usefulness.  With  him  it  was  a  means  to  a  superior 
end  ;  not  itself  an  end  to  which  he  was  idolatrously  devoted, 
as  some  preaching  students  are,  for  the  sake  of  fame  and 
worldly  honor.  He  considered  learning  as  best  promoted 
and  most  honored,  when  justly  subordinated  to  the  interests 
of  true  religion —and  this,  as  by  far  the  noblest  function  and 
the  purest  glory,  of  what  we,  poor  ignorant  mortals  before 
God,  call  learning,  and  boast  of  so  much,  often  so  contempt- 
ibly, in  his  presence.  Hence  he  neither  had,  nor  affected 
to  have,  any  ostentation  of  what  he  knew  ;  though  certainly 
a  much  better  scholar  than  many  who  were  preferred  before 
him,  by  the  lovers  of  show,  and  noise,  and  rhetorical  bril- 
liancy, and  captivating  bluster,  in  the  style  of  their  ministra- 
tions. At  all  these  meteors  he  could  smile  serene  with  pity 
more  than  envy,  as  he  kept  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  a 
planet,  not  a  comet,  shining  by  reflection,  and  regular  as 
well  as  noiseless,  while  he  ever  honored  that  great  central 
sun  of  righteousness  from  whom  he  derived  all  his  light  and 
ardor,  whose  steady  attraction  he  mutually  honored,  and 
around  whom  he  counted  it  his  glory  steadily  to  revolve. 
With  all  his  cares,  duties,  straits,  and  out-door  work  as  a 
pastor,  it  is  wonderful  that  he  should  have  been  able  so  to 
read  and  study,  prosecuting  his  plans  of  official  qualification 
and  proficiency,  and  keeping  up  with  the  periodical  litera- 
ture, as  well  as  the  theological  investigation,  for  which  his 
times  in  this  country  were  certainly  distinguished. 

7.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  consequently  instructive,  pei'sua- 
sive,  rich  and  excellent.  Without  the  attributes  of  splendid, 
great,  astonishing,  his  preaching  was  always  well-digested, 
sound,  respectable,  and  edifying;  while  the  whole-hearted- 
ness  of  his  manner  showed  that  he  was  the  very  reverse  of 
those  Church-of-England  preachers,  described  by  Cowper, 
with  a  little  ot^  the  severity  they  so  much  deserve,  who  have 
no  heart  in  the  service  whatever  else  they  have  : 

Some,  decent  in  demeanor  while  they  preach. 
That  task  performed,  r^^lapse  intothemsflve?; 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

And  having  spoken  wisely,  at  the  close 
Grow  wanton,  and  give  proof  to  every  eye, 
Whoe'er  was  edified,  themselves  were  not." 

Not  so  with  our  departed  brother.  He  made  his  pubhc  ser- 
vices to  be  devotional  exercises  and  duties ;  as  exempHfying 
the  apostohc  rule,  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  it  heartily,  as  to  the  Lord, 
and  not  to  men ;  knowing  that  of  tlie  Lord  ye  shall  receive  the 
reward  of  the  inheritance  ;for  ye  serve  the  Lord  Christ. 

Hence  there  was  an  unction  in  his  ministry  to  which  all 
his  hearers  bore  witness.  He  loved  God,  he  loved  them  ; 
and  they  had  to  see  and  own  it;  for  it  radiated  through 
all  his  ministrations,  and  begat  in  the  minds  of  the  wise  and 
the  good  of  his  people,  the  most  unbounded  confidence,  the 
most  reverent  esteem  of  his  character,  the  most  edifying 
sense  of  his  mission,  as  a  true  minister  of  our  Lord  and 
Savior  Jesus  Christ.  He  had  no  need  to  wrangle  about  his 
ecclesiastical  pedigree,  and  maintain  his  regular  descent  from 
the  Apostles,  in  a  line  of  the  true  '  succession,'  like  divers  in- 
sipid men,  and  blind  leaders  of  the  blind,  in  our  day,  whom 
Rome  and  Oxford  have  made  drunk  icith  the  wine  of  the  wrath 
of  their  fornication.  He  had  no  need  to  read  Lord  King  or 
Dr.  Campbell,  or  Whately  or  Powell,  or  Smyth  or  Duffield, 
in  order  adequately  to  despise  that  factitious  and  paganiz- 
ing folly  ;  and  his  hearers  had  a  very  summary  method,  too, 
of  testing  the  vocation  of  their  beloved  pastor — just  by  ap- 
plying that  rule  of  our  Savior  that  so  condemns  the  pretend- 
ers of  the  succession,  by  their  fruits  shall  ye  know  them. 
His  mission  was  attested  on  fleshly  and  immortal  tablets  of 
the  heart,  written  not  loith  ink  bvt  with  the  Spirit  of  the  livi7ig 
God.  His  seals  were  conversions.  His  ministry  was  suc- 
cessful, in  a  way  glorious,  and  in  a  degree  far  enough  supe- 
rior, in  contrast  with  the  stupid  formality,  and  the  graceless 
ritualism,  and  the  unspiritual  affinities,  of  the  got-up  and 
sensuous  "  pomp  and  circumstance"  of  Prelacy,  or  Popery,  or 
Puseyism.  We  cannot  repress  the  anticipation  of  an  awful 
contrast  developed  in  the  day  of  judgment,  between  such  a 
ministry  as  that  of  Dr.  Baldwin,  simple,  significant,  and  sub- 
lime, and  that  of  Dr.  Formalist,  of  the  succession — stript 
of  all  his  Romish  regimentals,  and  exhibited  in  all  the  nudity 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

of  his  character,  and  all  the  vapidnessof  his  pretensions,  at 
the  tribunal  of  the  Son  of  God  !  Prebendary,  Dean,  Dioce- 
san, Archbishop,  Patriarch,  Cardinal,  Pope,  Puseyism— 
contemptible ! 

8.  But,  we  recover  from  the  degradation,  as  well  as  the 
digression,  to  contemplate  Dr.  Baldwin  as  a  pastor,  indefali- 
gably  devoted  and  cordially  beloved^  by  a  sound-thinking  and 
bible-reading  congregation.  From  small  beginnings,  from  a 
nucleus  originated  by  his  own  laborious  piety,  his  church  and 
congregation  rose  to  importance  and  magnitude,  and  to  a 
degree,  second  to  few  others  in  our  country.  His  was  a 
career  of  steady  prosperity,  and  this  on  an  ascending  scale. 
He  was  the  moral  centre  of  a  large,  social,  and  relative  cir- 
cle ;  in  a  great  degree  dependent  on  him,  and  in  a  high  de- 
gree revering  and  appreciating  his  worth.  They  esteemed 
him  very  highly  in  love  for  his  loorkh  sake,  and  they  were  at 
peace  among  themselves.  Pastor  and  people  were  together,  in 
scene  and  in  history,  a  beautiful  exemplification  of  the  133d 
Psalm  ;  for  there  the  Lord  commanded  the  blessing,  even  life  for 
evermore.  We  leave  this  attractive  part  of  his  history,  how- 
ever, and  refer  the  reader  to  what  the  pen  of  his  successor 
has  so  competently  portrayed,  and  with  eminent  suitable- 
ness, in  the  subsequent  pages  of  this  volume. 

9.  His  theological  character  was  the  foundation  of 
many  other  excellencies,  and  deserves  our  attention.  For 
the  symmetry,  the  steadiness,  the  consistency,  the  scriptural 
richness,  and  the  practical  virtue,  as  well  as  the  principled 
independence  of  his  theological  views,  our  excellent  brother 
is  to  be  noted  and  commended.  In  an  age  of  isms,  and 
ultras,  and  schisms,  and  controversies,  he  kepi  his  equal 
path  at  a  wise  remove  from  all  of  them.  He  studied,  under- 
stood, and  loved,  the  Book  of  God.  Its  inspired  originals 
were  his  delight,  and  there  from  fountains  pure  as  heaven, 
he  drew  supplies,  with  which  to  feed  the  church  of  God,  and 
enlighten  the  souls  of  men.  He  realized  religiously  the  soul 
of  the  sentiment — 

"  juvat  integros  accedere  fontes;'' 

The  perfect  fountains  of  the  truth  to  broach, 
With  ea?y  access  often  to  approacli, 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

While  others  drink  th'adulterate  streams  below ; 
This  grand  resource 'tis  blessedness  to  know. 

The  type  of  his  theology  was  perhaps  better  characterized, 
in  a  word,  by  saying  it  was  almost  identical  with  that  of 
President  Dwight,  than  in  any  other  way.  If  different,  it 
was  mainly  in  that  which  indicates  a  real  improvement  in 
the  science,  since  his  Jloruit  or  vixit  among  us  ;  his  theology 
was  peculiarly  hermeneutical,  biblical,  and  philological,  as 
it  was  thus  eminently  scriptural  in  every  sense.  Hence  he 
was  immovable,  by  all  the  new-fangled  inventions  that  flit- 
ted in  our  atmosphere,  and  croaked  or  chattered,  or  offi- 
ciously importuned  for  precedence.  In  this  respect  he  was 
a  model  for  others,  a  noble  example.  He  was  a  Calvinist, 
but  not  a  fatalist.  He  believed  in  the  fulness  of  Christ  as 
the  Savior  of  the  world ;  in  the  offer,  virtual  and  real,  of  sal- 
vation for  all  the  world  and  to  every  creature,  based  indispensa- 
bly and  alone  on  his  all-atoning  and  infinitely  competent 
sacrifice  for  sin;  in  the  voluntary  wickedness  of  men,  all  with 
one  accord  making  excuse  and  refusing  so  great  salvation ;  in 
the  decree  of  election,  in  this  order  precisely  interposing, 
with  effect  unfrustrable,  influencing  all  to  enter  that  are 
saved  and  keeping  or  hindering  others  from  entering,  not 
AT  ALL,  NOT  IN  A  SOLITARY  INSTANCE  ;  but.  Oil  the  Contra- 
ry, so  as  to  increase  the  inducements  and  the  facilities  to 
others,  so  as  lo  evince  more  of  the  same  love  that  gave  the 
Son  of  God  to  die  for  us,  and  so  as  to  demonstrate  more  of 
the  pure  wickedness  of  men  in  voluntarily  refusing  to  enter  ; 
ihat  all  might  see  the  truth  that  pure  wickedness,  and  no- 
thing else,  and  this  all  of  their  own  making,  hinders  those 
especially  who  perish  from  amid  the  means  of  grace,  faith- 
fully administered  and  yet  in  vain,  as  to  them. 

While  he  highly  appreciated  many  of  the  rare  and  excel- 
lent qualities  of  the  late  Dr.  Emmons,  and  knew  him  person- 
ally, he  was  distinguished  for  being  always  averse  to  his 
peculiarities,  as  theologically  false  and  practically  injurious. 
As  we  knew  him  well  in  these  relations,  as  we  entirely  agree 
with  him,  and  as  w^e  suppose  his  decisive  and  uniform  dis- 
sidence  with  the  tenets  and  the  disciples  of  that  very  singu- 
lar divine,  was  both  characteristic  and  honorable  to  Dr. 


16  INTRODUCTIOxN. 

Baldwin,  we  will  state  three  items  in  which  his  censures 
were  strong  and  notorious,  with  respect  to  the  way  and  the 
views  of  Dr.  Emmons  ;  namely,  his  peculiar  mode  of  theolo- 
gizing ;  his  ultra-evangelical  views  of  disinterestedness ;  and 
his  making  God  the  author  of  sin,  by  maintaining  his  positive 
agency  in  the  production  and  the  actuation  of  all  the  volitions 
of  wicked  men  and  devils.  Of  which  inversely  and  in 
brief. — 

I.  The  agency  of  God,  as  above  stated.  Dr.  Emmons  un- 
doubtedly held,  and  maintains  in  his  published  works.  See 
vol.  iv.  Decrees  of  God  ;  especially  sermons  24,  25,  26,  27, 
28.  The  principle  of  the  Doctor's  logic  seems  to  be  all  re- 
solvable, as  we  think  with  Dr.  Baldwin,  into  this  proposi- 
tion,— God  is   the  immediate  author  of  every  change 

THAT  DOES,  OR  THAT  EVER  CAN  TAKE  PLACE,  POSSIBLY, 

IN  THE  NATURAL  OR  MORAL  WORLD.  This  principle  hc 
viewed  as  philosophically  and  theologically  false ;  and 
that  its  nature,  its  tendency,  and  its  logically  legitimate  re- 
sults, however  differently  its  favorers  may  allege  and  think, 
are  such  as  the  following ;  namely, 

1.  God  is  properly  the  only  agent  or  doer  of  any  thing  in 
the  universe. 

2.  He  cannot  possibly  make,  and  therefore  he  has  never 
really  made,  a  moral  agent  or  properly  any  agent. 

3.  There  are  properly  no  second  causes  in  the  universe. 
All  we  see  is  only  the  panorama  of  the  divine  ubiquity  at 
work,  doing  all  things,  God  himself  the  only  doer  of  things. 

4.  Our  acts  of  will  are  ours,  only  as  they  are  God's  voli- 
tions in  us,  himself  volitioning  all  our  volitions,  which  are  in 
every  sense  such,  and  such  only,  as  he  himself  produces  or 
creates  them,  and  as  he  prefers,  with  infinite  desire,  that,  all 
things  considered,  they  should  be;  and  this,  just  as  much, 
and  just  as  positively,  in  our  sinful,  as  in  our  holy,  volitions, 
desires,  and  exercises  of  mind. 

5.  Sin  is  the  necessary,  and  the  positive,  and  the  infinitely 
desirable  means,  all  things  considered,  and  just  so  m.iich  of 
it  as  there  is,  of  the  greatest  possible  good,  to  the  whole  uni- 
verse and  for  all  eternity.  Glory  be  to  sin  forever  and  ever, 
— all  thing-fi  considered  ! 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

6.  The  patrons  of  the  celebrated  behistic  system,  or  the 
optimism  of  the  French  philosophers,  or  the  doctrine  that 
the  universal  scheme  of  things,  sin  included,  is  the  best  pos- 
sible system,  and  that,  in  its  place  and  in  its  measured  qual- 
ity, sin  is  indispensably  economized  and  necessitated  to  this 
result,  and  was  on  that  account  divinely  desired,  preferred, 
and  operated  in  men  and  devils,  as  better  on  the  whole,  and 
so  infinitely  more  desirable  than  holiness  in  its  stead:  the 
patrons  of  this  scheme  are  pro  tanto  not  far  from  right, 
and  sin  on  the  whole  is  a  great  good— an  infinitely  great 
good  !  and  it  is  bad  only  in  itself  considered,  or  in  its  par- 
tial influences  and  availmenls. 

7.  The  fautors  of  the  ideal  system  of  Berkley  and  Hume, 
are  not  far  from  right.  For  the  agency  of  God  is  universal, 
ubiquitous,  and  indesinent.  Who  can  limit  it  in  any  sense, 
in  any  form,  or  in  any  way?  Hence  it  is  very  questionable, 
with  some,  if  there  be  any  thing  in  re,  that  is  not  all  in  menle ; 
or,  if  our  perception  of  a  material  object  be  not  the  whole  of 
it,  God  working  that  perception  in  some  way  in  us,  and 
making  the  thing  real  to  us,  while  it  is  no-thing  in  itself; 
real  relatively,  while  it  is  in  itself  the  quintessence  of  nihility, 
— if  we  know  what  that  is  !  So  that,  as  nothing  material  is, 
God  never  created  any  thing :  and  if  this  applies  to  matter, 
so  does  it,  very  probably,  to  mind  also;  and  if  to  mind  cre- 
ated, why  not  to  mind  uncreated  1  and  so,  may  be,  there  is 
not  any  thing,  at  all,  in  the  universe.  This  would  please 
Hume  and  Satan, possibly we  do  not  say  Berkley. 

8.  In  this  way  the  whims  of  the  Gnostic  Docetse,  and  the 
Pantheists  of  all  ages,  seem  to  be  much  favored  and  allowed  ; 
when  they  are  nothing  but  impious  day-dreams,  the  abomin- 
able absurdities  and  heresies  of  the  flesh,  worthy  only  of  the 
scorn  of  all  men,  as  they  are  most  execrable  to  the  holy  glory 
of  the  Almighty. 

Dr.  Baldwin  deserves  honor,  and  we  glorify  God  in  him, 
that  he  was  among  the  first  divines  in  this  country,  though 
then  so  young,  to  detect,  see  through,  and  avoid,  the  imposing 
errors  of  Dr.  Emmons  on  this  high  topic  of  theology — the 
agency  and  the  decrees  of  God. 

II.  Dr.  Baldwin  dissented  from  the  same  author  in  respect 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

to  his  views  of  disinterested  benevolence,  as  ultra  evangeli- 
cal, and  so  selfishly  opposed  to  the  gospel  as  God  reveals  it 
in  his  word. 

Dr.  Emmons's  views  of  submission — see  his  sermons  on 
that  topic — result  from  those  of  the  divine  agency,  and  must 
fall  with  them.  Hence,  a  conditional  willingness  to  be 
damned,  is  more  than  implied  in  his  sermons,  as  an  absolute 
duty ;  that  is,  we  ought  to  be  willing  to  let  God  make  us  as 
wicked  and  as  miserable,  as  he  chooses,  all  things  consid- 
ered, that  we  shall  be ! 

Dr.  Baldwin  viewed  this  as  shameful  perversion  of  the 
truth,  and  as  wretched  theology.  His  Bible  taught  him  bet- 
ter; and  therefore  he  practically  despised  it — as  they  do 
much  more  in  heaven!  To  him  it  seemed  like  misunder- 
standing the  nature  of  the  divine  purposes;  then  perverting 
their  use,  in  virtually  making  the  secret  counsel  of  God  our 
rule  of  action,  and  in  stupidly  thinking  that  his  law  and  his 
purposes  are  hostile  to  each  other;  and  so  theologizing 
dotingly  against  the  plainest  and  clearest  and  fullest  as- 
surances of  God  in  his  word — which  assurances  are  our  rules 
of  action,  prescribed  by  Him,  wfw  will  have  all  men  to  he 
£uved,  and  to  come  to  the  Imoioledge  of  the  truth,  and  who 
caimot  deny  himself. 

III.  His  peculiar  method  of  theologizing  was  considered 
by  Dr.  Baldwin  as  inducing  the  errors  of  his  system-  Instead 
o^  stud3^ing  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  their  inspired  originals, 
mastering  their  grammatical  analysis,  and  then  evolving 
their  native  sense  by  the  fixed  and  certain  principles  of  the 
science  of  interpretation;  Dr.  Emmons  was  habituated  to  be 
not  textual  so  much  as  topical,  not  hermeneutical  so  much  as 
scholastic,  abstract,  and  metaphysical,  in  his  method  of  discover- 
ing and  communicating  evangelical  truth.  'Grant  him  his 
premises,'  Dr.  Baldwin  would  say,  'and  he  will  reason  per- 
spicuously and  consecutively  away  from  the  Scripiures,  and 
far  enough  away  IVom  all  the  safe  places  oi"  Christian  theo- 
logy. His  postulates  are  plausible  ;  but  if  you  admit  them, 
see  to  it — or  j^ou  must  believe  ail  his  errors.  He  states  pro- 
positions sometimes  that  make  me  shudder — and  I  know, 
however  he  comes  by  them,  that  they  are  false  !     Beside,  hf 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

neglects  the  original  scriptures  almost  entirely  in  his  studies. 
I  doubt  if  he  reads  a  chapter  in  his  Greek  Testament  through 
in  a  year.'  Thus  would  Dr.  Baldwin  speak  of  Dr.  Emmons, 
decisively,  yet  without  any  unkind ness.  And  we  note  this 
as  a  proof  of  his  theological  sagacity  and  steady  views  of 
truth. 

We,  indeed,  concur  with  him  cordially ;  and  believe  that 
there  is  a  living  xinis  in  Emmonsism  which  must  be  ex- 
posed and  rejected.  The  men  who  forget  or  oppugn  in  their 
theology  the  eternal  truths,  that  man  is  a  free  moral  agent; 
that  God  made  and  governs  him,  as  such  ;  that  there  are  no 
decrees  of  God  inconsistent  with  this  ;  that  the  law  of  God 
is  the  interpreter  of  the  heart  of  God,  with  respect  to  the  ac- 
tions of  his  creatures;  that  there  is  no  hostility  between  the 
precepts  and  the  purposes  of  our  moral  Governor  ;  that  God 
is  in  no  proper  sense  the  author  of  sin  ;  that  he  is  infinitely 
sincere  in  his  offers  of  mercy  to  men,  as  he  is  in  every  thing 
he  says  to  them  ;  and  that  we  have  nothing  to  do  other  than 
obey  the  gospel  and  be  saved  :  the  men,  we  say,  who  do  not 
understand  and  love  these  truths,  ought,  in  their  candidate- 
ship,  to  be  recommended  rather  to  hoe  corn,  or  tend  a  saw- 
mill, or  go  on  a  whaling  voyage,  than  attempt — for  God  has 
no  need  of  ihem — continuing  with  such  views,  to  preach  the 
gospel.  Those,  who  err  in  their  theology,  while  they  dis- 
parage, what  is  far  enough  superior  to  them,  the  noble  sci- 
ence of  hermeneutics,  are  themselves  living,  and  passive, 
and  inglorious  witnesses  of  its  paramount  importance.  They 
interpret  the  scriptures — in  their  own  way;  confounding 
often  a  rhetorical  expression  with  a  metaphysical  statement, 
and  making  the  Holy  Ghost  responsible  for  their  own  infer- 
ences of  stupidity  and  moonshine;  while  the  influence  of 
these  doctrines  of  error,  as  we  have  seen  in  some  deplorable 
examples,  is  to  make  men  heartless  and  crafty,  always  plot- 
ting for  advantage,  striving  to  be  right  in  their  ends — some- 
how— if  not  in  the  means  they  apply,  as  best,  all  things  con- 
sidered, by  which  to  accomplish  them.  They  tend  to  make 
politicians  rather  than  Christians. 

"  From  such  apostles,  O  ye  [Presbyters.] 
Preserve  our  church  !  and  lay  not  careless  hands 
On  sculls  that  cannot  teach  and  will  not  learn." 


20  IXTRODUCTION. 

10.  Viewed  as  an  ecclesiastic^  as  a  disciplinariaD  in  the 
church,  as  a  member  of  her  judicatories,  Dr.  Baldwin  was 
consistently  himself^  and  a  fine  model  for  others.  He  was  wise, 
mild,  firm,  and  patient.  He  had  no  party  feelings  to  consult, 
no  personal  animosities  to  gratify,  no  rash  experiments  to 
advocate  or  enact.  He  remembered  that  the  kingdom  of  his 
Master  and  Lord  is  not  of  this  world;  and  so  important  in  his 
esteem  was  this  principle,  that  he  always  refused  to  act,  in 
the  church,  as  if  it  was  a  merely  temporal  corporation. 
Hence,  his  vigilance  was  not  the  less  thorough,  because  his 
kindness  and  forbearance  were  so  heavenly  and  so  remark- 
able. He  was  beloved  by  his  co-presbyters,  generally  in 
precise  proportion  to  their  real  piety  and  their  acquaintance- 
ship -with  him.  They  alw^ays  knew  what  to  anticipate  as  to 
his  principles,  and  that  he  would  act  in  accordance  with  them. 
He  w^as  liberal  and  catholic  to  other  denominations  ;  but  al- 
ways without  indifferentism,  and  without  including  those  no^ 
liolding  the  Head.  In  these  things,  we  say,  he  was  a  pattern 
of  ecclesiastics. 

Nor  can  this  part  of  our  subject  be  left,  without  recording 
his  views  and  feehngs  in  reference  to  the  acts  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  1S37,  which  rudely,  and  with  utterly  unprece- 
dented violence,  rent  the  Presbyterian  Church,  making  in- 
comparably the  worst  schism  ever  known  in  our  annals  in 
this  country.  This  rash  act  was  done  in  party  heat,  stimu- 
lated by  statements,  about  Western  New-York  and  certain 
extravagances  there,  which  w^ere  ex-parte,  exaggerated, 
and  for  the  most  part  calumnious  and  false.  It  was  an  act 
never  anticipated  in  the  Constitution  to  wdiich  its  perpe- 
trators were  sworn,  nay,  which  the  principles  and  all  the 
provisions  of  that  venerable  instrument,  as  well  as  all  the 
precedents  under  it,  entirely  and  absolutely  precluded.  The 
act  was  a  high  and  a  complicated  crime,  involving  the  sin 
of  perjury,  and  utterly  incapable  of  honest  vindication.  If 
all  they  alleged  about  heresies  and  abuses  w-ere  true,  as  it 
was  certainly  not,  still  hav^e  they  no  justification  for  their 
acts ;  unless  it  be  on  the  principle,  that  the  way  to  punish 
one  sin  properly  is  to  commit  a  greater  one.  The  next  year 
the  exscinding  assembly  made   these  acts  the   "  basis"  and 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

the  test  of  the  continuance  of  others  in  their  communion; 
and  so  virtually  exscinded  all  others  who  could  not  approve 
of  them,  thus  exploding  the  true  old  basis  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  breaking  covenant  with  those  leagued  previously 
with  them,  on  that  legitimate  and  only  foundation. 

AH  this  grieved  the  heart,  rived  and  wounded  the  soul  of 
our  excellent  brother.  His  grief  was  ingenuous,  pungent, 
and  unfeigned.  It  held  his  eyes  waking  at  midnight;  staring 
at  the  darkness,  which  seemed  noon  compared  with  the  ra- 
vage and  the  sacrilege  which  made  his  spirit  bleed.  Oh, 
eaid  he,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  shortly  after  these  sad  events, 
Oh !  where  is  that  noble,  large,  mighty,  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  I  joined  with  such  delight;  which  I  called 
mother,  and  loved  above  my  chief  joy  ?  Where  is  that  Ca- 
tholic, truly  Protestant,  soundly  learned,  and  profoundly  in- 
telhgent,  as  well  as  united  and  extended,  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which  I  have  so  gloried,  and  for  which  I  have 
so  prayed,  and  toiled,  and  hoped,  and  wept  ?  Alas  !  it  ex- 
ists no  more.  Its  many  enemies  rejoice.  Its  identity  has 
departed.  Its  glory  is  gone.  What  thing  shall  I  take  to  wit- 
ness for  ihee  ?  What  thing  shall  I  liken  to  thee,  O  daughter  of 
Jerusalem  7  What  shall  I  equal  to  thee,  that  I  may  comfort 
thee,  O  virgin  daughter  of  Zion  7  for  thy  breach  is  great  like  the 
sea ;  who  can  heal  it  7  Thy  prophets  have  seen  vain  and  foolish 
things  for  thee;  and  they  have  nut  discovered  thine  iniquity  to  turn 
away  thy  captivity,  but  have  seen  for  thee  false  burdens  and 
causes  of  banishment.     These,  for  substance,  were  his  words. 

In  such  Jeremiads  was  he  wont  to  grieve  over  the  deso- 
lations of  our  Jerusalem.  And  let  it  be  written  to  his  honor, 
and  for  his  posterity,  as  well  as  his  people,  to  read,  that  he 
had  nothing  to  do  with  that  great  wickedness,  but  to  weep 
over  it,  to  reprobate  it,  and  to  pray  that  God  would  give  re- 
pentance to  the  acknowledging  of  the  truth,  to  all  those  who,  di- 
rectly or  indirectly,  positively  or  negatively,  assisted  in  its 
fearful  consummation.  Lamentations  2:  15,  16,  there  is 
a  passage  which  might  well  be  added  to  the  foregoing,  for 
its  appropriateness  and  its  applicabiUty,  as  well  as  its  imme- 
diate connection. 

11.  Dr.  Baldwin  was  greatly  and  extensively  useful,  in  season 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

and  out  of  season,  and  in  ways  ordinary  and  extraordinary,  in 
all  the  relations  of  his  life.  To  the  poor  he  was  a  wise  and 
generous  friend.  With  the  mourning  and  the  bereaved,  he 
sympathized  most  soothingly  and  most  sincerely.  Wher- 
ever his  influence  could  move  he  sent  it  to  do  good.  The 
public  charities  of  the  day  occupied  a  large  share  of  his  af- 
fections and  his  toil.  The  cause  of  missions,  foreign  and 
domestic;  the  interests  of  sound  learning,  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, and  whatever  could  promote  the  intelligence  of  the 
community,  obtained  his  approbation  and  his  aid.  As  a 
consequence,  he  was  endeared  and  attached  to  many  out  of 
his  own  congregation,  who  knew  his  worth,  loved  his  public 
spirit,  and  rejoiced  in  his  usefulness. 

12.  We  conclude  with  the  remark  that  Dr.  Baldwin  is  a 
fine  illustration  of  the  power  of  sound  common  sense,  prac- 
tical discretion,  and  genuine  piety,  to  elevate  a  man  to  use- 
fulness and  renown  among  his  contemporaries.  He  had  no 
romance  in  his  character.  He  aimed  at  nothing  Utopian  or 
impracticable.  He  no  more  indulged  and  followed  day- 
dreams than  those  of  night,  or  the  fables  of  the  nursery.  He 
was  economical,  practical,  sincere,  consistent,  persevering, 
amiable,  symmetrical,  industrious,  and  truly  devoted  and 
pious.  There  was  no  stain  on  his  escutcheon,  no  discernible 
fault  in  his  character,  no  wart  nor  ulcer  on  the  features  of  his 
moral  countenance.  And  now  that  he  is  dead  and  gone^ 
what  shall  we  say  of  him,  comparatively  with  others,  and 
many  that  were  more  distinguished?  Reader,  what  of  him 
do  you  anticipate  at  the  resurrection  nf  the  Just  and  the  unjust  7 
Think  of  Byron  and  Bonaparte,  and  any  titled  dignitary  of 
the  church  that  now  radiates  on  some  throne  of  misbegot- 
ten power,  and  say,  who  of  them  shall  then  take  rank  of 
him?  whose  reward  would  you  prefer  to  take  as  your  own, 
his  or  theirs?  He  improved  the  talents  given  him;  he 
served  his  blessed  Master  sincerely  and  well ;  he  was  supe- 
rior to  all  the  meretricious  trappings  of  the  scarlet  Lady  of 
Babylon,  and  greater  in  his  apostolic  simplicity,  as  a  genuine 
primitive  Bishop  of  Jesus  Christ — such  a  Bishop  as  Christ 
himself  makes  and  consecrates — than  all  the  worldly  honors 
could  have  made  him,  from  those  who  belong  to  Rome,  or 


INTRODUCTIOX.  23 

those  who   arc  falsely  numbered  with  Protestants  away 
from  it. 

To  his  people,  we  say,  cherish  his  memory,  treasure  up 
his  advice,  teach  your  children  to  revere  him,  to  read  his 
memoir,  and  to  ponder  his  example.  Remember  them  that 
have  the  rule  over  yon,  who  have  spoken  unto  you  the  word  of  God  ; 
whose  faith  follow,  considering  the  end  of  their  conversation. 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever. 

This  rich  passage  some  interpret,  and  our  common  Bibles 
punctuate,  as  if  Jesws  C/iri^i  was  here  put  in  apposition  with 
the  end  (ey.^aat<;)  of  their  conversation.  And  though  this 
would  in  the  general  make  good  sense,  and  correct  doctrine 
too,  yet  is  it  not  the  native  sense  of  the  passage.  The  end  of 
their  conversation,  means  their  happy  exit  from  the  world,  the 
termination  of  their  career  in  the  excellent  glory,  the  end  of 
their  course  with  its  interminable  honors  and  its  infinite  re- 
wards. The  argument  is  thus  most  excellent;  as  if  the 
apostle  had  said.  Value  aright  your  spiritual  teachers. 
Love  them  for  their  faithfulness,  that  they  do  not  flatter  you 
or  spare  you,  or  deceive  you  ;  and  this,  considering  the  end 
of  their  conversation,  and  of  yours  with  them,  in  glory,  if  ye 
truly  obey  them  in  the  Lord. 

If  men  who  have  itching  ears,  and  who  prefer  their  teachers 
with  that  short-sightedness  that  never  considers  the  end  of 
their  conversation,  would  only  obey  this  order  of  God,  they 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  corrupters  of  any  kind, — So- 
cinians,  Universalists,  Antinomians,  empirics  in  theology, 
Puseyites  or  others ;  but  would  prefer  alone  an  authentic, 
able  and  faithful  preacher  of  the  truth.  And  having  found 
one,  they  would  not  leave  him  soon,  nor  cease  to  remember 
him  when  removed  from  them. 

With  the  church  and  congregation  of  his  former  charge, 
with  his  excellent  lady,  who  now  sits  a  widoio  with  orphans 
dependent,  with  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  who  knew  and 
loved  him,  with  the  college  at  Crawfordsville  from  whom  he 
was  so  abruptly  snatched  away  by  death,  and  with  all  his 
friends  in  New-England,  in  New-York,  and  in  the  great 
West,  it  is  our  pleasure  to  mingle  our  sorrows  and  our  sym- 
pathies ;  praying  to  the  Father  of  mercies,  the  Father  of 


24  INTRODUCTION. 

spirits,  the  Father  of  Hghts,  the  God  of  all  grace  and  con- 
solation, to  fill  the  chasm  with  his  own  self,  and  heal  in  his  own 
way  the  wound  it  pleased  his  inscrutable  sovereignty  so  unex- 
pectedly to  inflict !  He  is  my  God  himself— so  means  the 
name  Elihu.  And  our  brother  in  glory  now^,  we  doubt  not, 
realizes  tliat  superlative  bliss,  of  which  his  name  may  be  as- 
sumed as  the  just  index  and  the  true  epitome.  He  no  more 
weeps,  or  suSers.  or  fears,  or  ieels  a  pang!  He  regrets  not 
his  labors  for  Christ  but  rather  that  he  did  not  serve  him 
more  entirely  and  more  faithfully.  How  bright,  how  won- 
derful, how  ineffable,  how^  inconceivable  his  blessedness,  at 
this  moment,  and  tbrever  I 

This  introduction  has  been  despatched  in  great  weakness, 
and  amid  many  interruptions  and  cares.  The  writer  how- 
ever has  just  aimed  to  speak  faithfully  and  honestly  through- 
out ;  and  now  he  prays  that  the  whole  volume,  with  this  im- 
perfect prefatory  part  of  it,  may  promote  the  cause  of  truth 
and  righteousness,  and  so  be  useful  wherever  it  goes,  in  our 
country  or  other  places. 

He  has  not  had  the  pleasure  of  reading  as  yet  the  whole 
of  what  follows  ;  but  is  well  assured  that  his  excellent  friend, 
to  whom  that  more  responsible  and  important  service  is  so 
properly  confided,  has  done  it  justice,  in  a  way  that  must  de- 
serve and  reward  the  candid  attention  of  every  reader. 


CHAPTER     I. 

J*areutage.— Birth. — Early  Childhood. — Youth. — Early  Educa- 
tion.— Leaves  home  for  College. 

It  is  written  of  Jehoiada,  the  priest,  that  "  they 
buried  him  in  the  city  of  David,  among  the  kings, 
because  he  had  done  good  in  Israel^  both  towards  God 
and  towards  his  house."  He  is  the  greatest  in  the  sight 
of  God,  of  whom  it  can  with  most  truth  be  said, — 
**  Who  w^ent  about  doing  good."  It  was  foretold  of 
John,  the  son  ef  Zacharias, — "Many  shall  rejoice  at 
his  birth  ;  for  he  shall  be  great  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
— and  he  shall  be  fdled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  from  his 
mother's  womb ;  and  many  of  the  children  of  Israel 
shall  he  turn  to  the  Lord  their  God."  Such  greatness 
is  worthy  of  commemoration.  "  The  righteous  shall 
be  in  everlasting  remembrance," 

It  is  not  every  one  that  can  hope  to  compare  wath 
an  Isaac  Newton,  or  a  Francis  Bacon.  Few  can 
aspire  to  a  rivalship,  in  the  empire  of  mind,  with  an 
Owen,  a  Barrow,  a  Baxter,  or  Bates ;  with  an  Ed- 
w^ards,  a  Bellamy,  or  Dwight ;  yet  who  may  not,  if  he 
will,  keep  pace  with  a  Brainerd  or  Martyn,  a  Payson 
or  Page,  in  their  walk  of  faith  ?  Rarely  can  one  be 
found,  the  flashes  of  whose  genius  dazzle  every  eye ; 
yet  all  may  "  shine  as  lights  in  the  world."  The  mass 
of  Christ's  ministers  must  be  content  to  live  and  die 
unknown,  save  in  the  contracted  circle  of  their  own 
field  of  self-denying  labor.  To  such,  and  to  all 
Christ's  followei^,  the   example   of  one,  who,   in   a 

2 


26  ME]MOIR   OF 

similar  sphere,  and  with  similar  attainments,  has  wcjl 
performed  his  part,  will  be  of  more  worth,  than  ths^oi 
one  whose  rare  and  brilliant  talents  commanded  the 
admiration  of  a  world.  The  more  humble  the  station 
assigned  to  him  who  excels  in  doing  good,  the  more 
does  his  example  commend  itself  to  the  church  ; — the 
more  inducement  is  held  out  to  others  to  "  go  and  do 
likewise." 

The  following  memoir,  it  is  hoped,  will  serve  to 
show,  how  the  unpretending  Christian,  Teacher,  and 
Pastor  may  commend  the  gospel  of  Christ  to  his 
fellow-sinners  ; — how  "  through  much  tribulation"  he 
may  not  only  himself  "  enter  the  kingdom  of  God," 
but  induce  many  others  also  to  en'er  in  ; — how,  in 
short,  "  hy  patient  continuance  in  icell-dcingy^  he  may 
prove  a  blessing  to  many  generations. 

The  subject  of  this  Narrative  was  born  of  a  godly 
house.  His  father.  Deacon  Jonathan  Baldvdn,  who  still 
.survives  him,  was  the  son  of  Abiel  and  Mehitabel 
Baldwin,  of  whom  he  was  born  in  June,  1758,  in  the 
town  of  Durham,  Conn.  His  mother,  Suhmit,  was  the 
daughter  of  Deacon  Christopher  and  Patience  Lord,  of 
Saybrook,  Conn.,  and  was  born  in  September,  1764. 
Her  mother,  Mrs.  Patience  Lord,  was  the  sister  of  the 
Rev.  Nathan  Strong,  of  Coventry,  Conn.  Her  father. 
Deacon  Lord,  who  w^as  born  in  Dec.  1722,  and  bred  to 
the  work  of  a  hatter,  was  distinguished  for  his  active 
piety.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  punctuality  in  the 
discharge  of  Christian  duties,  for  his  attention  to  the 
sick,  and  for  his  faithfulness  to  the  souls  of  the  uncon- 
verted. So  much  was  religion  the  theme  of  his  dis- 
course, that  he  was  often  spoken  of  as  "  Priest  Lord." 

Mrs.    Baldwin,  who   is  yet  numbered    among  the 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  27 

living,  was  the  youngest  child  of  this  godly  man,  and 
the  only  one  residing  with  him  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage to  Deacon  Baldwin,  in  the  year  1782.  She  then 
removed  to  Durham,  where  they  continued  to  reside  for 
eighteen  months.  Shortly  after  the  termination  of  the 
war  of  the  revolution,  they  emigrated  to  Greene  Co., 
beyond  the  Hudson  River,  in  New-York,  where,  with 
six  other  American  and  two  Dutch  families,  they  set- 
tled the  town  of  New-Durham  in  the  wilderness. 

In  this  retreat  they  were  separated  from  the  sanc- 
tuary and  its  ordinances.  For  many  years  they  had  no 
spiritual  guide — none  to  break  unto  them  the  bread  of 
life.  During  the  first  year  they  had  occasional  meet- 
ings for  prayer ;  the  next  year  added  five  families  to 
their  number,  and  they  were  able  to  sustain  a  meeting 
for  divine  worship  every  Sabbath.  In  the  following 
year,  four  more  families  having  taken  up  their  abode 
among  them,  they  determined  to  secure  the  services  of 
Deacon  Lord  in  conducting  their  religious  worship. 
His  consent  having  been  obtained,  they  sent  a  convey- 
ance for  him  and  his  wife ;  a  church  was  organized, 
and  he  was  chosen  their  deacon,  to  serve  instead  of  a 
pastor,  until  they  might  be  able  to  procure  the  services 
of  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 

Elihu  Whittlesey  Baldwin  was  the  fourth  child, 
and  eldest  son,  of  his  parents,  and  was  born  December 
25th,  1789.  In  later  days  his  birth-place  has  been 
described  as  "  a  beautiful  farm,  situated  on  an  emi- 
nence, which  commanded  a  view  of  a  richly  cultivated 
country,  twenty  miles  in  extent  to  the  North  River." 
But  the  hand  of  the  husbandman  had,  in  '89,  scarcely 
made  an  impression  on  the  surrounding  wilderness. 


28  MEMOIR    OF 

From  his  birth  he  was  regarded  by  his  venerable 
grandfather  with  more  than  ordinary  interest.  As 
soon  as  he  could  comprehend  instruction,  this  good  man 
was  unwearied  in  hi3  endeavors  to  instil  into  his  infant 
mind  lessons  of  piety.  He  became  the  almost  con- 
stant companion  of  his  grandsire  by  day  and  by  night. 
In  such  fellowship  he  early  imbibed  a  thoughtfulness 
and  seriousness  above  his  years,  while  he  became  in- 
creasingly, every  day,  the  favorite  object  of  his  aged 
instructor's  solicitude  and  prayers.  These  prayers  led 
to  the  exercise  of  an  unshaken  assurance,  on  the  part 
of  Deacon  Lord,  in  relation  to  his  youthful  charge. 
*'  This  boy,''^  he  w^ould  say,  "  God  has  given  me  j^^  and 
to  a  friend  on  one  occasion,  he  remarked,  as  with 
patriarchal  simplicity  and  faith  he  laid  his  hand  on 
Elihu's  head, — "  This  boy  will  preach  the  GospeW^ 

The  faithfulness  of  his  instructor  made  an  abiding 
impression  on  the  susceptible  heart  of  the  child.  In 
after-days  he  delighted  to  bear  witness  to  these  labors 
of  love.  "  He  taught  me  to  repeat  the  Lord's  prayer, 
and  explained  to  me  its  meaning.  He  bid  me  look  to 
God  every  morning  and  evening  for  his  blessing,  and 
the  pardon  of  my  sins.  He  told  me  also  that  I  was  a 
sinner,  and  needed  repentance,  that  God  was  angry 
with  me  every  day,  and,  that  unless  I  repented  of  my 
yins,  I  should  be  punished  in  another  world." 

By  such  teaching,  he  very  early  became  the  subject 
of  religious  convictions.  His  recollections,  in  riper 
years,  led  him  to  believe  that  at  this  early  period  the 
Spirit  of  God  exerted  a  special  influence  upon  his  mind, 
convincing  him  of  sin,  and  producing  that  "  fear  of  the 
Lord,"  which  "  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom."  "  The 
effect  of  these  instructions,"  he  says,  "  was  such  as  to 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  29 

render  me  verj'  uneasy,  and  desirous  to  escape  the  pun- 
ishment of  my  sins.  I  repeated  the  prayer  that  I  had 
been  taught,  and  as  early  as  my  ffth  year,  as  near  as 
I  can  remember,  began  to  suppHcate  in  my  own  lan- 
guage. Such  was  at  times  my  conviction  of  sin,  that  I 
thought  myself  the  vilest  of  creatures.  I  continued 
ever  after  the  practice  of  secret  prayer,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  six  months  during  a  part  of  my  child- 
hood." 

He  often  referred  with  lively  interest  to  an  incident, 
that  developed  at  this  time  the  character  of  his  religious 
exercises.  An  elder  sister  having  reproved  him  for 
some  trivial  offence,  he  exhibited  a  degree  of  anger  so 
unlike  his  usual  manner,  that  his  sister  involuntarily 
exclaimed,  "  Why — Elihu .'"  He  was  so  stung  with 
this  expression  of  surprise,  that  he  withdrew  to  a  corner 
of  the  room  to  escape  observation.  His  mortification 
was  follow^ed  by  a  painful  sense  of  the  guilt  of  cherish- 
ing such  angry  passions,  and  he  resolved  that  he  would 
never  a^ain  allow  himself  to  speak  when  his  mind  was 
thus  excited.  Frequently,  when  at  play  in  the  fields, 
would  the  remembrance  of  this  sin  so  oppress  his  mind, 
as  to  drive  him  to  kneel  dowm  under  a  tree,  and  ask 
God  to  forgive  him,  and  change  his  wicked  heart. 
The  slightest  occurrence  may  thus  affect  the  whole  of 
subsequent  life. 

Another  instance  of  a  similar  character  may  be  rela- 
ted. About  this  time  he  formed  a  distinct  resolution  to 
speak  the  truth  at  all  times.  "  It  was  occasioned,"  he 
says,  "  by  my  grandfather's  commending  me  for  con- 
fessing a  trivial  offence,  with  some  degree,  however,  of 
reluctance. — '  /  knew^  said  the  old  gentleman,  '  he 
would  never  tell  a  lie.'' — I  felt  reproved  and  secretly 


30  MEMOIR    OF 

mortified.  I  said  to  myself,  I  shall  never  again  hesitate 
to  speak  the  whole  truth.  This  occurred  at  the  age  of 
five  years  ;  and  I  am  not  conscious  of  having  ever  been 
guilty  of  uttering  known  falsehood.  In  two  or  three 
instances  I  have  failed  to  correct  mis-statements,  made 
hastily,  or  through  ignorance,  for  w^hich  I  have  expe- 
rienced poignant  and,  I  trust,  penitential  sorrow." 

In  the  month  of  November,  1796,  his  venerable 
grandfather.  Deacon  Lord,  having  for  six  weeks  been 
affected  with  the  palsy,  ceased  from  his  labors  on  the 
earth.  He  had  for  the  space  of  ten  years  watched  over 
the  little  flock  in  the  wilderness,  praying,  and  waiting 
for  God  to  send  them  a  pastor  after  his  own  heart.  It 
was  kindly  ordered  "  that  he  should  not  see  death  be- 
fore he  had  seen"  the  fulfilment  of  his  prayers.  When 
on  his  dying  bed,  it  pleased  God  to  send  them  the  Rev. 
Jesse  Townsend  (a  graduate  of  Yale  College)  to  re- 
ceive the  mantle  of  the  departing  saint.  The  old  man 
died  full  in  the  faith  that  his  boy  w^ould  become  a 
preacher  of  the  gospel.  His  aged  widow  survived 
him  about  two  years. 

Not  less  careful  and  anxious  were  his  parents  to  pro- 
mote, in  every  possible  w^y,  without  loss  of  time,  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  their  son.  His  father  w^as  no  ordi- 
nary Christian.  Though  bred  to  the  work  of  a  black- 
smith, his  lowly  condition  did  not  prevent  his  aspiring 
to  the  work  of  serving  God  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son. 
To  him  mainly  it  was  owing,  that  his  adopted  home 
enjoyed  almost  from  its  first  settlement  stated  opportu- 
nities of  worshiping  God,  until  a  church  was  gathered, 
and  afterwards  furnished  with  a  faithful  pastor. 

Nearly  twenty  years  after  the  decease  of  Deacon 
Lord,  the  father  of  Elihu  removed  with  his  family  to  the 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  31 

town  of  Atwater,  in  Ohio.  Here  again  he  fount!  him- 
self in  the  wilderness.  There  was  neither  church  nor 
preacher  ;  but  he  could  not  live  without  the  enjoyment 
of  divine  worship.  He  invited  his  neighbors  to  his  own 
house,  to  join  in  public  prayer  and  praise.  Every  Sab- 
bath, he  read  to  them  a  sermon  from  some  pious  author. 
The  Spirit  of  God  was  poured  out  in  answer  to  their 
prayers,  and  soon  the  converting  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  felt  in  every  family.  The  foundations  of  a 
spiritual  house  were  thus  early  laid,  and  the  wilderness 
budded  and  blossomed  as  the  rose.  Such  a  father  might 
well  expect  to  reap  an  early  and  abundant  harvest  in 
his  own  domestic  inclosure.  All  his  children,  who 
have  come  to  years,  six  in  number,  have  been  gathered 
into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

To  their  faithfulness,  the  subject  of  this  narrative 
bears  grateful  testimony.  "  The  instructions  of  my 
grandfather  were  succeeded  by  those  of  my  parents. 
I  w^s  taught  to  read  the  Bible  and  made  to  reverence 
the  Sabbath  day;  they  also  made  it  my  duty  to  go  to 
the  sanctuary,  where  I  joined  in  the  worship  of  God. 
I  committed  to  memory  the  Assembly's  Shorter  Cate- 
chism, which  I  repeated  regularly  every  Lord's  day  to 
my  father.  He  accompanied  it  with  a  prayer,  but 
added  no  explanation  ;  yet  the  influence  of  this  excel- 
lent summ^ary  of  Christian  doctrine  was  such  u})on  my 
mind,  that  I  can  never  think  of  it  but  with  profound 
respect  and  gratitude  to  God." 

The  time  was  when  every  child  among  us  w^as  thus 
instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  our  faith.  That  education 
was  incomplete,  which  did  not  lodge  the  Assembly's 
Catechism  in  the  memory  of  the  child.  It  was  taught 
in  the  day-school  and  at  home  ;  it  formed  a  part  of  the 


■32  MLMOIi;    OF 

tiiUies  oi  the  parent,  to  inculcate  its  truths  upon  the 
minds  of  his  children  every  Lord's  day,  at  least.  And 
well  has  that  generation  repaid  their  pious  teachers. 
They,  who  were  thus  trained,  are,  if  yet  living,  to  be 
found  for  the  most  part  in  the  bosom  of  our  churches, 
and  very  many  in  the  very  fore-front  of  the  ministry  of 
the  gospel.  They  are  among  the  soundest,  most  expe- 
rienced, most  stable,  most  useful  members  of  the  church 
and  ministry.  Why  are  the  old  paths  forsaken,  and 
why  are  the  rising  generation,  to  so  great  an  extent,, 
left  to  grow  up  without  being  able  so  much  as  to 
answer  the  question — "  What  is  the  chief  end  of  man  ?" 

An  incident  similar  to  one  already  related,  that  oc- 
curred in  his  ninth  year,  served  still  further  to  subdue 
"  a  temper,  naturally  quick  and  furious,"  such,  as  he 
himself  believed,  was  his.  "  Having  one  evening,"  he 
remarks,  "  in  company  with  several  children,  resented 
a  trifling  affront  by  an  excessive  ebullition  of  passion, 
I  was,  upon  reflection,  extremely  mortified,  and  without 
any  instruction,  or  communicating  my  intention  to  any 
one,  resolved  to  restrain  ray  words  and  expressions  of 
resentment  in  future,  under  every  provocation,  until  I 
should  either  have  repeated  the  letters  of  the  alphabet 
to  myself  from  A  to  Z,  and  back  again  :  or  retired  for 
a  time  suflicient  to  cool  my  excited  feelings." 

Those  who  knew  him  have  often  been  constrained 
to  speak  of  him  as  a  rare  example  of  equanimity.  He 
seemed  always  to  have  his  passions  completely  under 
his  control,  and  was,  perhaps,  one  of  the  very  last  men 
to  be  suspected  of  a  native  temper  so  "  quick  and  fu- 
rious" as  he  represents  his  own  to  have  been.  Such  a 
conquest  may  well  encourage  every  child  to  attempt 
the  same,  and  all  parents  to  persevere  in  the  endeavor 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  33 

to  subdue  and  regulate  the  temper  of  their  children, 
however  ungovernable  they  may  at  first  appear. 

His  mind  was  also  deeply  impressed  by  a  remarkable 
providence,  whereby  he  was  preserved  from  an  early 
grave.  But  for  the  interposition  of  his  father,  who 
saved  him  at  the  hazard  of  his  own  life,  he  would  have 
been  crushed  to  death  by  a  falling  tree.  His  life  was 
prolonged,  and  his  tender  mind  much  affected  by  the 
goodness  of  his  Preserver. 

So  obedient  was  he  to  the  will  of  his  parents,  that 
his  father  has  been  heard  to  say,  that  he  never,  in  a 
single  instance,  had  occasion  to  punish  him.  He  was 
a  son  on  whom  the  rod  of  correction  had  never  been 
laid. 

From  early  childhood  he  was  addicted  to  books,  and 
as  he  grew  up  was  very  careful  to  select  only  such  as 
would  be  profitable.  On  one  occasion  a  7iovel  was  loan- 
ed to  him  by  a  neighbor,  but  after  having  read  enough 
to  ascertain  its  character,  he  consulted  with  his  mother 
as  to  the  propriety  of  continuing  the  perusal,  and  re- 
turned it  to  the  owner  as  a  foolish  thing.  He  could 
seldom  be  induced  to  leave  his  books  to  join  his  youth- 
ful companions  in  their  sports. 

The  great  scrupulousness  with  w^hich  he  avoided  an 
untruth,  or  any  thing  which  might  lead  him  into  a 
falsehood,  may  be  seen  by  a  little  incident  which  made 
a  strong  impression  on  the  mind  of  his  father.  Having 
been  told  that  he  and  his  brother  should  each  have  a 
pocket-knife,  on  the  condition  of  promising  not  to  lose 
them,  tempting  as  was  the  offer,  he  could  not  be  indu- 
ced to  join  in  the  promise  readily  made  by  his  brother, 
lest  he  should  break  his  word.  The  loss  of  the  knife 
was  so  severe  a  trial,  as  to  cause  him  to  weep  bitterly. 
2* 


34  MEMOIR    OF 

His  conscientiousness  was  rewarded  with  the  object  of 
his  desire. 

When  he  was  about  ten  years  of  age,  his  native 
place  was  visited  with  a  refreshing  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord.  This  work  of  divine  grace  continued  more 
than  two  years,  and  resulted  in  a  general  awakening 
by  which  about  eighty  persons  were  led  to  experience 
a  saving  change.  The  mind  of  Elihu  was  brought  at 
this  time  more  directly  in  contact  with  divine  truth,  and 
the  seriousness  of  his  early  childhood  greatly  increased. 

Shortly  after  the  occurrence  of  this  revival,  his  pa- 
rents determined  to  give  him,  as  far  as  their  limited 
means  would  allow,  a  liberal  education.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  was  placed  under  the  care  of  his  pastor, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Townsend,  who,  like  many  of  the  minis- 
ters of  that  day,  was  accustomed  to  prepare  young  men 
for  college.  Such  was  the  serious,  correct,  and  exem- 
plary manner  of  his  daily  walk,  that  his  pastor  was 
induced  to  ask  him,  why  he  did  not  connect  himself 
with  the  church.  He  could  not,  however,  believe  that 
he  had  yet  experienced  a  change  of  heart. 

Having  completed  his  preparatory  course  in  the 
autumn  of  1807,  in  his  eighteenth  year,  he  left  for  the 
first  time  the  home  of  his  childhood,  to  seek  a  dwelling- 
place  among  strangers,  and  venture  upon  the  tempta- 
tions and  trials  of  a  college-life. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  35 


CHAPTER    II. 

Conversion. — ^Diary  commenced. — Profession  of  Religion. 

The  year  1807  was  distinguished  in  the  history  of 
American  churches  for  the  prevalence  of  the  revival- 
spirit.  New-York  and  Connecticut  shared  largely  in 
the  blessings  of  divine  grace.  About  the  period  that 
young  Baldwin  became  a  member  of  Yale  College,  the 
churches  of  New  Haven  enjoyed  a  revival  of  great  ex- 
tent and  power.  The  students  of  the  college,  however, 
w^ere,  for  a  number  of  months,  almost  unmoved  by  the 
prevailing  excitement.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
college-year,  "  the  number  of  professing  Christians  in 
all  the  classes  did  not  exceed  fifteen." 

This  low  state  of  religion  in  college,  during  the 
prevalence  of  a  powerful  revival  in  the  town,  was  a 
source  of  great  anxiety  and  distress  to  the  venerable 
President,  Dr.  Dwight.  The  spring-term  was  about  to 
close,  and  the  students  to  disperse.  He  could  not  en- 
dure the  thought  that  they  should  depart  in  their  sins, 
and  careless.  Deeply  oppressed  with  this  feeling,  he 
preached  early  in  April,  1808,  on  the  Sabbath,  in  the 
chapel,  a  sermon  from  the  words — "  Young  man  !  I  say 
unto  thee,  arise."  At  evening-prayers,  on  the  day  pre- 
vious, he  had  manifested  deep  emotion.  One  who  was 
present,  thus  describes  the  scene : — "  The  chapter  was 
read  with  an  altered  tone,  the  hymn  was  recited  with 
a  faltering  accent,  and  when  he  joined  with  the  choir, 
as  was  his  custona,  his  usually  loud  and  sonorous  voice 


36  MEMOIR    OF 

became  weak  and  tremulous.  Next  came  the  prayer ; 
it  seemed  as  if  the  subduing  power  of  the  gospel  was 
doubly  upon  him.  There  was  such  an  apparent 
coming  down — such  an  obviously  holy  prostration  of 
soul,  as  indicated  that  the  Spirit  of  God  was  with  him. 
He  spake  as  if 'dust  and  ashes'  were  addressing  the 
Eternal  on  his  throne.  Never  did  a  minister  plead 
more  fervently  for  his  people — never  a  father  more  im- 
portunately for  his  children,  than  he  did  for  his  pupils 
before  him." 

The  sermon  that  followed  deepened  the  impression 
produced  by  the  chapel-service  of  the  evening  previous, 
and  it  was  soon  made  evident  that  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  had  descended  upon  the  college.  The  work  of 
conviction  "  spread  slowly  and  without  confusion  or 
excitement." 

When  young  Baldwin  observed  the  deep  emotion  of 
President  Dwight,  as  described  above,  "  Now,"  said  he 
to  himself,  "  we  shall  have  a  revival  of  religion  ;  shall 
I  be  one  of  its  happy  subjects  ?  /  will  try  ;"  and,  it  is 
thought,  he  was  the  first  to  go  to  the  President's  room 
with  the  question — "  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 
Though  serious  before,  and  at  times  almost  hoping  that 
he  was  a  child  of  God,  he  now  became  greatly  dis- 
tressed on  account  of  his  sins,  and  anxious  for  salvation. 
"I  well  remember,"  says  a  correspondent,  "  the  very 
deep  interest  he  manifested  in  the  subject  of  religion 
after  his  attention  was  particularly  roused  to  it."  Under 
the  teachings  of  President  Dwight,  whose  soul  was  full 
of  kindness,  and  his  w^ords,  of  wisdom  and  comfort, 
to  those  who  sought  his  paternal  counsels,  he  was  soon 
brought  to  experience  the  joy  of  a  comfortable  hope  of 
salvation.     The  character  of  his  spiritual  exercises  on 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  37 

the  occasion  of  his  hopeful  conversion  may  be  learned 
from  his  own  words.  Under  date  of  the  18th  of  Feb- 
ruary following  he  makes  these  observations. 

"  My  feelings  and  views  last  evening  were  much  the 
same  with  those  that  I  experienced  at  the  time  when  I 
dared  to  hope  that  I  loved  a  Savior.  God's  law  ap- 
peared infinitely  beautiful,  and  metbought  I  could  praise 
his  justice.  All  my  good  works  sunk  to  nothing.  I 
was  completely  naked  and  helpless  ;  yet  there  was  no 
terror ;  my  mind  was  placid,  although  overwhelmed 
with  a  sense  of  my  shameful  ingratitude ;  if  I  looked 
on  my  right  hand,  it  was  sin ;  if  on  my  left,  my  prayers 
and  duties  seemed  to  need  the  sprinkling  blood  of 
Jesus ;  then,  ere  I  was  aware,  my  soul  made  me  like 
the  chariots  of  Amminadib.  Oh  !  had  a  thousand  laws 
pointed  their  flaming  arrows  at  my  heart,  methought  I 
could  rest  secure  under  the  covert  of  Jesus'  wings ;  I 
say,  had  a  thousand  laws  pointed  their  flaming  darts  ! 
Even  the  law  of  God  appeared  infinitely  desirable — 
none  too  strict — worthy  of  its  author.  Thy  law,  O 
Lord,  is  perfect ;  keep  thou  my  feet  in  thy  command- 
ments. During  these  sensations  my  soul  seemed  to 
melt,  my  heart  loathed  my  own  actions,  my  eyes  began 
to  drop,  and  the  world  with  its  enjoyments  was  lost. 
Oh  !  better,  far  better  is  one  hour's  converse  with  God, 
than  a  thousand  days  spent  in  the  pleasures  of  sin." 

Thus  was  he  brought  to  renounce,  not  the  world  only, 
but  himself,  his  own  righteousness,  his  very  best  deeds  ; 
to  give  up  all  for  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  cast  himself  alone 
on  a  Savior's  perfect  righteousness,  to  justify,  admire, 
and  love  the  perfect  law  of  God,  and  long  for  entire 
conformity  to  all  its  requirements.  His  soul  acquiesced 
most  sweetly  in  the  will  of  God,  and  was  melted  by  the 


38  MEMOIR    OF 

divine  goodness.    He  neither  made,  nor  wished  to  make 
any  reservations  of  himself.     His  language  was, — 

"  All  that  I  am.  and  all  I  have, 
Shall  be  forever  thine." 

It  was  with  the  greatest  confidence,  and  with  child- 
like simplicity,  that  he  now  gave  himself  up  to  pursue 
the  counsels  of  his  reverend  instructor.  By  him  he  was 
taught  to  judge  of  the  character  of  his  heart  "  from  his 
principles  and  actions,  and  not  from  excited  emotion." 
Dr.  Dvvight  took  every  precaution  to  guard  his  pupils 
against  the  indulgence  of  a  false  hope.  He  cautioned 
them  not  to  trust  to  the  degree  of  excited  emotion, 
either  in  the  matter  of  conviction,  or  in  the  subsequent 
hope  and  joy.  He  "  insisted  strongly  on  a  s'pirit  of 
obedience,  as  the  distinctive  characteristic  of  true  piety. 
To  form  that  spirit,  and  direct  it  aright,  was  the  great 
object  of  his  instructions  to  young  believers.  'Not 
merely  in  offices  of  devotion,'  he  was  wont  to  say, 
'  not  merely  in  prayer  and  efforts  for  the  salvation  of 
others,  momentous  as  these  duties  are,  but  in  every 
concern  of  life,  let  each  act  and  feeling  be  turned  into 
the  performance  of  duty.  Religion,  if  genuine,  will 
possess  and  animate  the  entire  man.  It  is  knowledge 
in  the  understanding,  and  purity  in  the  heart;  it  is 
kindness,  modesty,  and  candor  in  our  social  intercourse; 
it  is  uprightness,  integrity,  and  generosity  in  our  secular 
concerns  ;  it  is  the  regulation  of  our  desires,  the  gov- 
ernment of  our  passions,  the  harmonious  union  of  what- 
ever things  are  honest,  just,  lovely,  and  of  good  report.' " 

In  this  account,  by  Prof.  Goodrich,  of  the  instructions 
imparted  by  Pres.  Dvvight  to  the  pupils  of  his  charge 
at  their  entrance  upon  their  Christian  course,  we  are 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  39 

introduced  to  the  very  beginnings  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  life 
of  piety.  The  seed  thus  sown  took  root,  sprang  up, 
and  bore  abundant  fruit.  His  whole  Christian  charac- 
ter, as  will  yet  be  seen,  appears  to  have  been  formed 
after  the  above  model,  and  to  have  attained  a  high  de- 
gree of  completeness.  That  symmetry  of  soul,  which 
he  afterwards  so  eminently  exhibited,  had  its  origin, 
doubtless,  through  divine  grace,  in  the  teachings  of  that 
man  of  God,  who  was  himself  so  illustrious  an  exam- 
ple (and  so  through  life  esteemed  by  Mr.  Baldwin)  of 
the  truth  which  he  so  forcibly  inculcated. 

We  find  the  subject  of  our  narrative,  resolving,  a  few 
days  after  his  hopeful  conversion,  to  commence  a  pri- 
vate journal.  The  first  entry  is  dated  at  New-Haven, 
April  27,  1808,  and  is  as  follows  : — "  Resolved  upon 
keeping  a  diary  for  my  own  private  reflections.  Alas, 
my  former  life  !  Eighteen  years  have  I  lived  without 
God  in  the  world ;  O  precious  time,  how  lost  forever ; 
miserably  lost,  worse  than  lost,  awfully  misspent;  O 
Father  of  mercies,  this  book  do  I  dedicate  to  thy  ser- 
vice ;  may  each  opening  leaf  exhibit  the  feelings  of  a 
heart  thankful  for  thy  mercies,  engaged  in  thy  cause. 
Oh  !  grant  that  I  may  live  to  thy  glory  ;  give  me  that 
love  that  passeth  all  understanding,  that  zeal  for  thy 
cause  wiiich  thou  wilt  be  pleased  to  bless,  that  humility 
which  thou  wilt  not  despise  ;  may  no  corrupt  desire 
find  its  way  to  my  heart ;  lead  me  not  into  temptation, 
but  deliver  me  when  I  am  tempted,  and  to  thee  shall 
be  ascribed  the  power  and  the  glory  forever.     Amen." 

It  has  already  appeared,  that  previous  to  this  season 
of  revival  in  college,  and  for  many  years,  he  had  borne 
a  most  reputable  character,  and  was  regarded,  to  some 
extent,  as  already  a  subject  of  divine  grace.     Yet  ail 


40  MEMOIR    OF 

this  period  he  counts  as  lost,  and  worse  than  lost. 
Whatever  may  have  been  his  convictions  of  duty,  and 
however  exemplary  his  outward  conduct,  it  must  all  go 
for  nothing,  until  he  openly  espouses  the  cause  of  his 
Savior.  Now,  if  not  before,  he  admits  the  truth  of  that 
declaration,  "  He  that  is  not  with  me,  is  against  rae." 

The  season  for  the  administration  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  to  the  college-church  was  approaching.  He 
had  made  application  for  admission  to  the  holy  ordi- 
nance, and  had  been  accepted.  In  view  of  his  public 
profession  he  thus  writes  : 

"April  21.  Had  many  fears  with  regard  to  the 
solemn  transaction  just  before  me.  Am  I  a  child  of 
God  or  not  ?  is  the  important,  the  all-interesting  ques- 
tion. Oh  that  God  would  give  rae  grace  to  examine 
myself  as  to  my  discerning  the  Lord's  body  !  Who 
can  bear  the  thought  of  being  a  hypocrite  in  Zion  ? 

"  My  soul  is  much  in  darkness.  Where  have  my  af- 
fections gone  ?  Am  I  deceived  ?  Have  I  no  love  to 
God,  his  laws,  and  ordinances  ?  Am  I  still  under  the 
ruhng  power  of  Satan  ?  Awake,  0  my  soul !  What 
thinkest  thou  of  such  a  state  ? — of  treading  under  foot 
the  precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God  ?  0  Father  of 
mercies  !  to  thee  I  cry  in  a  distressing  time  ;  Oh  !  bring 
my  feet  up  out  of  the  miry  clay,  and  establish  them  on 
the  rock,  Christ  Jesus;  enable  me,  I  beseech  thee,  to 
give  myself  up  entirely  to  thee,  *  Thou  alone  hast  the 
words  of  eternal  life.'  Be  thou  my  portion  and  my  all 
forever. 

"  My  sins  during  the  past  week  have  been  great  and 
aggravating.  Who  but  God  could  bear  with  such  a 
monster  of  iniquity  ?  Who  but  Christ  could  make  an 
atonement  equal  to  his  crimes  ?      O  blessed  Savior  ! 


KEY.  DR.    BALDWi.V.  41 

may  I  be  washed  in  thy  blood  ;  then  shall  I  be  able 
with  thy  assistance,  to  resist  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
wicked  one." 

These  extracts  are  characteristic.  His  Christian 
course,  for  the  most  part,  exhibits  the  same  dread  of 
self-deception  and  hypocrisy,  the  same  consciousness  of 
dreadful  guilt  in  the  sight  of  God,  the  same  abhorrence 
of  sin,  and  the  same  dependence  on  the  precious  '  blood 
of  sprinkling.'  He  ever  felt  that  he  could  not  be  too 
strict  with  his  own  heart.  Scarcely  could  he  perceive 
any  thing  in  his  daily  experience  that  a  pure  God  could 
approve.  Thus  the  very  next  day  he  writes, — "  No 
affections  for  God." 

As  the  hour  of  his  public  consecration  to  God  ap- 
proached he  appears  to  have  been  more  and  more  op- 
pressed with  a  sense  of  his  unworthiness.  On  the 
Friday  previous  he  exclaims, — "  What  am  I  to-day  1 
My  soul !  stop,  and  take  an  impartial  view.  How  did 
I  spend  the  past  day  ?  How  am  I  spending  this  ? 
Why  is  it  that  I  am  thus  spared  ?  Why  do  I  thus  drag 
out  my  miserable  life,  estranged  from  God  ?  What  is 
like  to  be  the  end  of  such  a  life  1  O  most  holy  God  I 
1  beseech  thee  to  wash  away  my  sin  for  the  Re- 
deemer's sake.  Remember  me  according  to  thine  in- 
finite mercy.  Show"  me  every  day  more  of  my  sinful 
heart,  more  of  the  fading  nature  of  earthly  enjoyments. 
Oh  !  make  me  a  vessel  to  serve  thee;  while  I  live  in 
this  world,  may  I  devote  myself  to  thy  cause." 

He  had  evidently  been  very  desirous  to  see,  as  he 
expresses  it,  "  more  of  his  sinful  heart."  To  this  he 
had  for  many  days  been  directing  his  constant  search  ; 
and  now  he  is  overwhelmed  with  the  sight;  he  can 
scarcely  look  up ;  he  is  a  miserable  sinner ;  he  won- 


42  MEMOIR   OF 

ders  that  God  can  spare  such  a  wretch  ;  he  abhors 
himself.  It  is  often  thus  that  the  Christian  becomes  a 
terror  to  himself,  when  his  eyes  are  fixed  more  on  the 
corruptions  of  his  own  heart,  than  on  the  sorrows  of 
his  bleeding  Lord. 

The  morrow  finds  him  still  at  the  work  of  self- 
inspection.  In  the  mornmg  he  writes, — "  Felt  much 
depressed  with  a  sense  of  my  hardness  of  heart ;  re- 
solved to  devote  a  particular  portion  of  the  afternoon  to 
secret  duties  and  meditation.  Oh  that  God  would  be 
with  me  and  direct  me !  How  sweet  it  is  to  worship 
God  aright !  Oh  that  my  heart  were  formed  for  his 
service  !  then  I  could  say  that  one  hour  spent  in  his 
service  is  better  than  ages  spent  elsewhere.  But,  alas, 
the  carnal  mind !  O  blessed  Jesus  !  purify  my  heart 
for  thy  service.  '  If  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me 
clean.'  May  this  afternoon  be  the  best  that  I  have 
ever  enjoyed." 

In  the  afternoon  he  is  in  much  the  same  state  of 
mind.  "  Felt,"  he  says,  "  more  calm,  and  at  the  same 
time  awed  at  the  thoughts  of  the  solemn  scene  just  be- 
fore-me.  iSIy  heart  desires  to  be  for  God,  or^I  am  de- 
ceived. Which  of  these  two  cases,  0  my  soul,  will 
apply  to  thee  ?  What  is  thy  condition  ?  Alas  !  the 
solemn  question  has  been  so  often  put  that  it  has  lost 
its  effect."  From  this  it  appears  that  his  character  had 
undergone  for  some  time  past  the  severest  scrutiny.  So 
constantly  had  he  inquired  into  the  state  of  his  heart, 
that  he  scarcely  waited  for  the  honest  reply,  or  tarried 
for  the  verdict  of  conscience.  Himself  he  could  not  too 
much  condemn ;  but  he  might  have  honored  the  Sa- 
vior more  by  a  more  frequent  visit  to  his  cross. 

Almost  at  a  loss  what  to  say  of  himself,  he  casts  his 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  43 

soul  upon  the  arms  of  a  covenant-keeping  God.  "  One 
remedy,"  he  exclaims,  is  yet  left :  '  The  Lord's  arm  is 
not  shortened,  that  it  cannot  save,  neither  his  ear 
heavy,  that  it  cannot  hear.'  O  thou  Father  of  mer- 
cies !  the  solemn  transaction  is  just  before  me,  and  my 
heart  shrinks  with  fear  ;  enable  me,  I  beseech  thee,  to 
offer  up  myself  to  thee  without  reserve.  On  thee  I  am 
dependent ;  except  thou  be  with  me,  how  shall  I  come 
into  thy  presence  ?  Except  thou  guide  my  feet,  they 
will  plunge  into  'the  miry  clay.'  Oh  !  give  me  a  heart 
to  pray  to  thee.  Defend  me  from  temptations ;  be  thou 
my  ALL.  May  this  approaching  Sabbath  be  a  cause  of 
my  rejoicing  in  thy  kingdom." 

In  closing,  he  pleads  the  merit  of  his  Savior,  and  as- 
cribes all  the  powder  and  glory  to  the  God  of  his  salva- 
tion. 

The  eventful  day  of  his  consecration  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  dawns,  and  finds  him  true  to  his  purpose,  and 
girding  himself  for  his  Master's  work. 

"  May  Isf,  Sunday  morning.  My  mind  feels  calm, 
and  serene,  but  I  have  not  that  devotion  that  I  could 
wish  for.  This  day  I  am  preparing  to  come  forward 
to  the  table  of  the  Lord.  The  holy  angels  and  God 
himself  will  be  witnesses  of  the  scene.  Can  this  be 
true,  and  I  still  lack  affection  ?  O  ungrateful  soul ! 
Canst  thou  come  forward  to  the  table  of  the  Lord,  to 
celebrate  the  dying  love  of  Jesus,  wdth  so  little  emotion  ? 
Methinks  my  soul  should  burn  with  the  thought.  For 
me  his  sacred  body  was  stretched  upon  the  cross ;  for 
me  he  bowed  his  sacred  head,  and  gave  up  the  ghost : — 
for  me,  a  poor  guilty  sinner  !  Oh  that  the  Lord  would 
manifest  himself  to  me  this  day,  as  he  does  not  unto  the 
world!" 


44  MEMOIR    OF 

In  all  this  self-scrutiny  it  cannot  escape  notice  that 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  had  fallen  into  an  error  that 
has  been  too  often  observable  in  the  experience  of 
American  Christians.  While  the  young  expectant  of 
heavenly  glory  cannot  too  thoroughly  renounce  him- 
self, nor  be  too  jealous  over  his  own  heart,  he  may  be 
so  engrossed  with  the  work  of  ''sounding  the  depths 
within,  and  comparing  it  with  the  law  of  God,"  as  to 
lose  every  ray  of  hope,  and  sink  into  a  state  bordering 
upon  despair.  "  There  is  joy,"  says  one,  "  in  what  ? 
looking  at  the  state  of  the  heart  ?  No ;  but  in  be- 
lieving ;  in  looking  to  Jesus,  and  in  trusting  in  him. 
While  the  soul  turns  in  upon  itself,  it  may,  and  it  often 
does  examine,  and  watch,  and  excite  itself  to  a  constant 
wakefulness,  until  it  shrinks,  like  the  sensitive  plant, 
from  duty  and  from  hope.  Or,  perhaps,  stung  with  a 
sense  of  spiritual  danger,  it  rolls  itself  in  agony,  and 
calls  up  the  most  harrowing  and  terrifying  conceptions 
of  its  eternal  state.  Oh  !  when  will  Christians  remem- 
ber that  their  life  comes  not  from  themselves,  but  from 
Christ ;  and  then  look,  not  to  their  own  guiltiness  for 
consolation,  but  to  him  who  is  the  chiefest  among  ten 
thousand  ? — There  is  peace,  and  joy,  and  hope  in  be- 
lieving. But  it  comes  from  believing,  and  not  from 
doubt  and  uncertainty." 

In  this  respect  Mr.  B.,  in  common  with  the  converts 
of  his  day,  and  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of 
the  ministry  of  that  and  a  previous  generation,  erred  on 
the  side  of  self-scrutiny.  Many  among  us  commit  the 
more  fatal  error  of  trusting  their  own  hearts  too  much. 
This  is  something  very  different  from  the  "  Life,  Walk, 
and  Triumph  of  Faith,^^  which  it  is  the  great  work  of 
the  gospel  to  commend  to  a  dying  world;— a  Faith 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  45 

that  looks  only  to  the  cross  of  Jesus  for  hope,  and  peace, 
and  joy  ', — a  Faith  that  says  : 

"  Nothing  in  my  hand  I  bring, 
Simply  to  thy  cross  I  cling  ; 
Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me  I 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee." 


CHAPTER    III. 

Spiritual  Experience.— Pious  Resolutions. — Deep  Waters.— 
Faint,  yet  pursuing.  —  Pecuniary  Embarrassments. — Leaves 
College  for  a  season. — Assists  Rev.  Dr.  Backus  as  teacher. — 
Growth  in  grace. 

We  are  now  to  contemplate  the  young  student,  as  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  This  solemn  espousal 
to  the  Lord  took  place,  as  we  have  seen,  on  the  first 
day  of  May,  1808.  In  the  afternoon,  he  makes  a  re- 
cord of  the  state  of  mind  in  which  he  commenced  the 
Christian  profession : 

"  The  solemn  scene  is  past.  I  have  publicly  deliver- 
ed myself  up  to  God.  *  *  *  My  thoughts,  this  fore- 
noon, during  the  solemn  act  of  dedicating  myself  to 
God,  have  been  attended  with  awe.  To  be  in  the 
presence  of  an  All-seeing  God  has  appeared  to  me 
peculiarly  solemn  as  well  as  desirable.  I  have  resolved 
to  live  to  the  Lord  from  this  time  forever.  O  Lord  ! 
what  am  I  or  my  father's  house,  that  thou  shouldst  al- 
low me  this  privilege  of  coming  to  thy  table  to  cele- 
brate Christ's  death  ?  Oh  !  I  beseech  thee,  that  I  may 
live  according  to  the  profession  which  thou  hast  enabled 


46  MEMOIR   OF 

me  to  make  this  clay.  Oh !  wilt  thou  from  time  to  time 
show  me  my  heart.  May  I  be  truly  thankful  for  thy 
mercies,  penitent  for  my  sins.  May  I  live  soberly  and 
righteously  as  I  ought.  Preserve  me  from  every  temp- 
tation, especially  those  which  are  natural  to  youth. 
And  may  I  live  to  thee  wholly  and  entirely." 

On  the  last  day  of  the  spring-term,  Tuesday,  May  3, 
he  writes  ao^ain  : — "  Have  had  many  pleasing  thoughts 
since  last  Sunday.  God  has  graciously  upheld  me. 
But,  alas !  how  have  I  sinned  against  him  !  Oh  that  I 
could  live  to  him  !  My  life  seems  to  be  little  less  than 
a  continued  state  of  rebellion  against  him.  O  most 
merciful  Father !  forgive,  I  beseech  thee,  the  inequality 
of  thy  servant,  and  blot  out  my  transgressions,  for  the 
Redeemer's  sake." 

The  following  vacation,  which  commenced  the  next 
day,  and  .continued  four  wrecks,  he  passed  with  his 
kindred  at  Durham.  The  state  of  his  mind  during  this 
period  he  briefly  records  on  his  return  to  college : 

"  Wednesday,  June  1st.  Oh  !  how  does  it  become  me 
to  thank  God  for  all  his  tender  mercies  tow^ards  me 
during  the  last  vacation  !  My  feelings  have  been  va- 
rious; sometimes  cast  down,  sometimes  raised  up.  Oh 
that  I  could  magnify  the  Lord  as  I  ought !  I  feel  in 
myself  an  inclination  to  be  lukewarm.  Can  this  be 
consistent  with  Christianity  V 

Shortly  after  his  hopeful  conversion  he  had  drawn 
up  a  series  of  resolutions,  or  rules  for  the  government 
of  his  future  life.  These  were  mislaid  or  lost  at  Dur- 
ham. After  his  return  he  endeavored  to  repair  the 
loss : 

"  June  4.   Resolved,  that,  by  God's  assistance,  I  will 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  47 

endeavor  to  keep  the  following  Resolutions,  being  the 
amount  of  my  former  ones  : 

"  1.  Resolved,  that  I  will  make  it  my  constant  prac- 
tice to  devote  some  part  of  Saturday  for  the  purpose  of 
preparing  for  the  Lord's  day. 

"  2.  Ptesolved,  that  I  will  endeavor  to  spend-  the 
whole  of  the  Sabbath  ifi  God's  service,  knowing  that  I 
must  render  an  account  thereof  to  God. 

"  3.  Resolved,  that  I  will  make  secret  prayer  my 
practice  morning  and  evening. 

"  4.  Resolved,  that  I  will  avoid  evil  company,  and 
flee  youthful  lusts  and  vanities. 

"  5.  Resolved,  that  I  will  never  form  an  opinion 
rashly  concerning  any  subject  of  importance,  looking  to 
God  for  assistance  in  all  my  undertakings. 

"  6.  Resolved,  that  I  will  never  undertake  any  busi- 
ness for  the  success  of  which  I  cannot  in  conscience  ask 
God's  blessing. 

"7.  Resolved,  that  I  will  always  give  my  superiors 
that  honor  which  is  their  due,  and  never  behave  proudly 
to  my  inferiors. 

"  8.  Resolved  to  make  it  my  daily  endeavor  to  con- 
quer my  natural  passions,  such  as  hatred,  revenge,  and 
the  like. 

"  9.  Resolved,  that  in  all  my  doings  I  will  fear  God 
rather  than  man. 

"  10.  Resolved  to  read  the  Scriptures  daily  ;  pray- 
ing God  to  give  me  a  right  understanding  of  them,  and 
a  heart  to  make  them  perpetually  the  guide  of  my  faith 
and  practice,  and  the  solace  of  my  pilgrimage  through 
this  wicked  world. 

"11.  Resolved  to  avoid,  as  much  as  possible,  dis- 
putes on  trivial  subjects. 


4S  MEMOIR    OF 

"  12^  Resolved  to  guard  against  anger,  at  such  times 
as  duty  may  render  it  necessary  for  me  to  oppose  the 
erroneous  principles  and  practices  of  the  world. 

"  13.  Resolved  to  set  a  guard  over  my  eyes  and 
thoughts  in  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord. 

"  14.  Resolved  to  study  frugality  in  my  diet,  espe- 
cially in  things  calculated  to  feed  sensual  desires. 

"  15.  Resolved  to  sleep  so  much  only  as  may  be 
necessary  for  my  health. 

"  Resolved  to  read  these  resolutions  every  Saturday, 
or  the  latter  part  of  the  week,  examining  my  conduct, 
and  praying  God  to  enable  me  to  keep  them,  as  far  as 
they  are  agreeable  to  his  will,  and  to  forgive  all  the 
breaches  of  the  same. 

"  17.  Resolved  to  examine  into  the  soundness  of  my 
Christian  hope,  as  often  as  once  a  fortnight,  and  to  note 
the  result  of  each  examination." 

In  these  resolutions  we  have  a  clue  to  his  besetting 
sins.  Several  of  them  were  undoubtedly  suggested  by 
his  daily  experience.  In  relation  to  most  of  the  mat- 
ters to  which  they  refer,  he  felt  it  necessary  to  be  pecu- 
liarly watchful,  and  to  bind  himself  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  lest  he  should  at  any  time  offend. 

We  perceive,  also,  the  strong  bent  of  his  soul  to  the 
service  of  his  Redeemer.  It  was  not  enough  for  him, 
as  it  is,  alas !  with  too  many  others,  to  have  become  a 
member  of  Christ's  visible  body;  he  would  also  walk 
worthy  of  his  vocation.  He  longs,  he  pants,  for  entire 
conformity  to  the  law  of  his  God — to  mortify  every 
sinful  passion,  to  subdue  every  carnal  lust,  to  improve 
all  the  means  of  grace,  to  walk  circumspectly  '  redeem- 
ing the  time,'  and  to  make  full  proof  of  his  hope.  He 
has  no  thought  of  returning  to   the  world,   but  with 


REV.    I)K.    BALDWIN.  49 

Paul,  he  is  for  pressing  ^  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize 
of  the  high  calhng  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.'  He  has 
scarcely  any  patience  with  himself  because  he  finds  so 
much  remaining  propensity  to  sin — so  few  and  so  faint 
desires  for  God,  and  that  he  makes  so  little  progress  in 
the  life  of  God. 

Accordingly  the  very  next  day, "  Simday,  June  6th" 
he  thus  writes : — "  How  slow  my  affections  move,  if 
they  move  at  all !  How  have  I  sinned  this  day !  To- 
day I  have  sat  down  at  the  table  of  the  Lord.  His 
death  has  been  set  before  me.  Alas !  what  backw^ard- 
ness,  what  lukewarmness  have  I  felt  to-day  I  My  life 
is  but  little  better  than  one  continued  series  of  sin  and 
rebellion  against  God.  Who  but  God  could  bear  with 
such  a  monster  of  iniquity  1  Yet  God  has  even  this 
day  afforded  me,  if  I  am  not  deceived,  some  tokens  of 
his  favor,  and  how  many  of  his  mercy !  Oh  that  God 
would  tune  my  heart  for  his  praise — that  he  would 
direct  my  feet  in  bis  commandments !  When  he  re- 
moves his  supporting  hand,  how  soon  I  fall !  0  cursed 
sin !  how  I  hate  thee ;  yet,  like  a  fool,  am  continually 
beguiled  into  thy  paths.  Happy  he,  who  is  delivered 
from  the  snares  and  temptations  of  sense,  who  can 
praise  God  and  never  tire  !  And  shall  this  ever  be  my 
lot  ?  Yes,  if  I  hate  sin  ;  if  it  is  a  burden  to  my  soul. 
K  this  is  the  case,  the  time  is  at  hand  when  I  shall 
raise  my  voice,  with  all  the  holy  angels,  in  praise  to 
God.  O  blessed  hope !  This  shall  encourage  me  to 
go  on,  and  struggle  manfully  against  sin.  I  shall 
finally  get  the  victory..  Blessed  God !  be  thou  on  my 
side.  Cover  me,  I  humbly  beseech  thee,  with  the  hol- 
low of  thy  hand.  Then  shall  I  not  be  dismayed.  If 
3 


50  MEMOIR    OF 

thou  be  for  me,  I  care  not  who  may  be  against  me. 
Thou  art  my  rock." 

In  a  strain  very  similar  he  describes  his  feeUngs  on 
the  following  Sabbath : 

"  June  12th,  A.  M.  Alas !  how  my  thoughts  run  ! 
I  scarcely  keep  them  upon  any  thing  that  is  solemn. 
What  will  be  the  end  of  such  a  wicked  heart  ?  Oh  ! 
miserable  sinner  that  I  am  !  ^  who  shall  deliver  me  from 
the  body  of  this  death  V  How  do  I  long  to  be  delivered 
from  this  load  of  sin !  When  shall  the  time  of  my  de- 
parture come  ?  Methinks,  if  it  will  but  deliver  me  from 
these  corrupt  inclinations  and  desires,  I  could  meet  the 
summons  with  joy.  But  I  may  mistake  in  this  thing. 
How  deceitful  the  human  heart !  W^ho  can  trace  it  ? 
Who  can  discover  its  corruptions  ?  Think,  0  my  soul ! 
on  this,  and  '  prepare  to  meet  thy  God.'  Lord !  be 
graciously  pleased  to  show  me  my  sins,  pardon  my 
iniquities,  and  love  me  freely.  Oh !  am  I  not  thine  1 
Thou  knowest." 

At  "  12  o'clock"  he  continues  the  mournful  record 
of  his  sins.  "  How  swiftly  time  passes !  This  Sabbath 
is  already  far  spent,  but,  alas  !  how  have  I  spent  it  ? 
Consider  this,  O  my  soul !  What  hast  thou  been  en- 
gaged in  to-day  1  What  have  become  of  thy  affections  ? 
How  long  dost  thou  think  to  sleep  ?  Alas  !  what  am  I 
but  selfishness  and  sin  *?  Every  day  brings  full  proof 
of  my  vileness.  Can  this  be  true,  and  I  be  a  Chris- 
tian 1  Oh  !  I  fear.— Lord !  '  deliver  me  from  the  body 
of  this  death.'  Sanctify  my  soul  in  the  blood  of  Jesus, 
and  lead  me  in  the  way  of  life  eternal.  Enable  me  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  thy  holy  Sabbath  in  fervent 
devotion." 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  51 

Again,  at  the  expiration  of  another  week,  he  is  in 
bitterness  by  reason  of  his  sins,  and  condemns  himself 
for  his  coldness : 

"  June  19th,  Sunday  morning. — My  state  of  mind 
the  last  week  has  been  distressing.  What  am  I  ?  is 
the  question.  Alas !  what  shall  I  do  ?  O  miserable 
soul !  what  shall  I  do  for  thee  ?  Shall  I  give  my 
body  to  the  flames?  What  would  it  profit?  I  am 
determined,  by  God's  grace,  what  to  do.  *  I  will  arise 
and  go  to  my  Father,  and  will  say  unto  him.  Father ! 
I  have  sinned  against  heaven  and  before  thee,  and  am 
no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son ;  make  me  as  one 
of  thy  hired  servants.'  O  Father  of  mercies  !  make  me 
but  the  door-keeper  of  thy  house,  and  then  I  will  be 
content.  Oh  !  save  me  from  sin,  which,  methinks,  my 
soul  hateth. 

"  O  Lord  !  show  me  my  heart.  Wilt  thou  this  day 
grant  me  thy  face  and  favor.  Oh  !  may  I  fast  aright ; 
may  my  heart's  desires  ascend  to  thee,  my  God !  I 
come  to  thee  as  a  sinner.  May  the  all-atoning  blood 
of  Jesus  be  applied  to  my  soul.  Oh  !  who  can  tell  the 
burden  of  sin?  How  distressing  to  pray  without  a 
heart — without  affections  !  Have  I  not  sinned  enough 
against  my  own  soul  ?  Have  I  not  abused  the  precious 
blood  of  the  Son  of  God  long  enough  ?  Come,  my 
soul !  go,  praise  the  Lord  :  go  and  offer  him  thy  love 
for  all  his  goodness.  Go  view  the  love  of  Jesus — see 
him  stretched  on  the  accursed  tree,  a  bleeding  sacrifice 
for  thy  sins,  to  save  thee  from  death.  And  canst  thou 
not  love  him  ?  O  hardened  heart !  Methinks,  I  would 
willingly  tear  thee  from  my  bosom,  if  that  would  mend 
the  matter.  When,  0  Lord!  wilt  thou  cleanse  my 
heart  ?" 


52  MEMOIR    OF 

He  was  evidently  at  this  time  passing  through  deep 
waters.  Wave  after  wave  swept  over  his  soul.  The 
adversary  was  permitted  to  worry  and  vex  his  soul,  and 
even  God  seemed  to  have  forsaken  him.  Yet  in  all 
this  darkness  we  see  the  Christian.  With  holy  Job  he 
cries — "  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  hira." 
The  characteristics  of  the  new  creature  are  clearly  ex- 
hibited. He  hates  nothing  so  much  as  sin.  It  is  all 
his  trouble.  He  loathes  it.  He  longs  for  deliverance. 
He  is  ready  to  do,  be,  or  suffer,  any  thing,  if  he  may 
only  be  pure  in  God's  sight.  Death  itself  would  be  to 
him  an  unspeakable  blessing,  if  it  would  but  put  an 
end  to  his  sinning  against  God. 

Yet,  as  previous  to  his  public  profession,  he  is  more 
occupied  with  the  Law  than  the  Gospel.  He  seems  as 
yet  to  have  learned  only  in  part  that  "  what  the  Law 
could  not  do,  in  that  it  was  weak  through  the  flesh, 
God,  sending  his  own  Son  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh, 
and  for  sin,  condemned  sin  in  the  flesh ;  that  the  right- 
eousness of  the  Law  might  be  fulfilled  in  us,  who  walk 
not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit."  Jealous  over 
himself  with  a  godly  jealousy,  he  yet  honors  not,  as  he 
ought  to  have  done,  the  all-abounding  grace  of  his 
Redeemer.  Christ  and  his  all-sufficient  righteousness, 
though  evidently  all  his  hope,  are  yet  too  frequently 
lost  sight  of.    Hence  his  darkness,  his  grief,  his  horror. 

''June  26th,  Sunday  morning. — Where  hast  thou 
been,  O  my  soul !  that  thou  art  so  hardened  1  Wilt 
thou  forever  remain  blind  to  thy  own  good  ?  My 
thoughts  this  morning  have  been  worldly  and  erring, 
beyond  what  I  have  experienced,  on  a  Sunday  morning, 
since  I  obtained  a  hope  of  being  reconciled  to  God. 
Much  I  fear  that  I  am  deceived.     Alas!  what  shall  I 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  53 

do  ?  Live  so  I  cannot.  Live  better  I  must.  O  Lord  ! 
please  to  direct  me  in  the  pathway  of  duty.  Show  me 
my  heart.  Fit  me  for  thy  worship.  Oh  that  my  heart 
might  be  seized  for  thee!  Oh!  wilt  thou  humble  me 
for  my  sins  ?  May  I  repent  of  my  iniquities.  Except 
thou  give  me  grace  how  can  I  serve  thee  ?  Lord  !  I 
acknowledge  that  I  am  the  most  vile  of  all  thy  crea- 
tures. Oh  !  save  me  from  my  own  evil  heart.  Leave 
me  not  to  myself. 

"  My  feelings  during  the  last  week  have  been  various, 
but  not  generally  of  the  most  comforting  kind.  I  have 
sinned  and  prayed  God  to  forgive,  and  fell  right  into 
sin  again,  even  while  I  was  asking  for  forgiveness.  O 
Lord  !  deal  not  with  me  according  to  my  folly." 

In  all  this  there  is  not  the  least  affectation.  No- 
thing can  be  more  evident  than  his  honesty  in  these 
records.  He  really  felt  all  that  he  expresses,  and 
much  more.  Though  in  all  the  college,  perhaps,  (and 
so  his  fellow-students  are  ready  to  testify,)  there  was 
not  another  more  humble,  more  faithful,  more  exem- 
plary in  his  whole  conduct;  yet,  such  had  been  his 
diligence  in  the  work  of  self-inspection,  to  himself  it 
seemed  that  not  another  could  be  found  so  vile.  Of  his 
own  heart  he  could  see  much  ;  of  others  almost  no- 
thing. And  such  was  his  abundant  charity,  that  the 
failings  of  others  were  in  his  eyes  but  the  result  of  in- 
firmity, not  the  workings  of  a  depraved  heart.  In 
respect  to  others  his  charity  covered  "  a  multitude  of 
sins."     But  for  himself  be  had  no  charity  at  all. 

Now  and  then  he  would  rise  above  this  state  of  de- 
pression, and  suffer  his  thoughts  to  soar  away  to  the 
world  of  glory.  Of  this  character  is  the  record  of  the 
following  Sabbath  : 


54 


MEMOIR    OF 


"  Sunday,  July  3.  How  pleasant  are  the  Sabbaths 
of  the  Lord  I  Oh  !  were  it  not  for  them,  what  should 
I  do  here  ?  The  world  would  be  a  wilderness.  But 
for  the  light  of  God's  countenance,  life  would  be  a  bur- 
den. Oh !  methinks  I  long  for  the  heavenly  rest. 
When  shall  I  be  free  from  sin  ?  0  happy  hour ! 
come  !  Why  should  I  grovel  here  in  the  dust  1  I  have 
crucified  my  Redeemer  enough.  I  have  abused  his 
mercies  enough.  I  have  wallowed  in  sin  long  enough. 
My  soul !  awake  and  praise  the  Lord.  Alas  !  this 
clog  of  flesh,  of  pride,  and  of  sin  !  O  Lord  !  fit  me  for 
thy  service.  Pity  my  poor  attempts  to  serve  thee,  and 
'  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting.' 

"  I  have  this  day  given  myself  anew  to  the  Lord. 
Methinks,  from  this  time  I  will  endeavor  to  live  nigh 
to  God.  In  his  strength  I  '  shall  do  valiantly  ;'  in  my 
own  I  shall  do  nothing." 

At  the  expiration  of  another  week  he  appears  to  be 
"  faint,  yet  pursuing" — almost  overcome,  yet  resolved 
never  to  give  up  to  the  foe  : 

"  Sunday,  July  10.  Alas !  how  flies  my  time  I  What 
have  I  done  for  God  the  last  week  ?  Think,  0  my 
soul !  what  hast  thou  been  doing  ?  Can  I  endure  to 
live  in  this  manner  ?  I  have  this  day  labored  under  a 
multitude  of  evil  thoughts.  The  world  (0  my  ene- 
my !)  besets  me  on  every  side,  and  nothing  will  suffice 
but  I  must — I  must  deny  my  Lord  !  And  is  it  so  ? 
Wilt  thou,  O  my  enemy  !  take  up  with  nothing  but  my 
soul !  I  trust  in  God  that  thou  shalt  get  nothing  by 
thy  extravagant  demands.  God  holds  me  yet.  Jesus 
will  not  let  me  go.  O  blessed  Jesus  !  come  quickly, 
lest  my  enemy  take  me.  I  have  no  strength  at  all  to 
resist  without  thy  help.     Come,  O  thou  darling  of  ray 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  55 

soul !  Why  wouldst  thou  hide  thy  lovely  countenance 
till  I  die  ?  How  shall  the  dead  praise  thee  1  Oh ! 
then,  delay  not.  *  I  am  sick  of  love.'  Spread  thy 
garment  over  me,  and  say — *  Live !' — May  I  be  rav- 
ished with  the  beauty  of  thy  countenance,  O  thou  fairest 
of  the  sons  of  men !  keep  me  from  sin — from  polluting 
thy  holy  law.     Oh  !  remember  me  in  mercy." 

Now  he  begins  to  see  Jesus  as  he  is,  and  his  sins  are 
forgotten  for  the  moment.  It  was  at  the  table  of  the 
Lord,  while  gazing  on  "  the  martyred  Lamb,"  that  the 
change  seems  to  have  taken  place.  It  was  thus  that 
God  gave  him  "  a  little  reviving  in  the  house  of  his 
bondage."  But  it  seems  to  have  been  only  "  for  a  little 
space."  The  next  Sabbath-morning  finds  him  still 
taking  his  wicked  heart  to  task  for  its  coldness  and 
treachery. 

"  July  17.  Have  been  remarkably  stupid  this  last 
week.  Oh !  how  has  the  world  engaged  my  heart !  I 
grovel  here  like  a  fool,  little  thinking  of  my  future 
heritage.  When  shall  this  dream  be  past  ?  O  foolish, 
backsliding  heart!  how  little  dost  thou  do  for  God! 
What  praise  hast  thou  to  bestow  for  the  hght  of  this 
morning  ?  Another  holy  day  is  come,  another  Sabbath 
has  dawned  upon  thee.  This  is  the  day  that  God  has 
sanctified.  Oh!  what  a  blessed  God!  W^ho  could 
have  thought  of  such  a  thing — that  I,  a  miserable 
worm,  should  be  allowed  one  of  God's  precious  days  ?  It 
is  no  less  than  a  little  part  of  heaven.  Come  then,  my 
soul, 

' '■ — enjoy  thy  rest, 

Improve  the  day  thy  God  has  blest.'  " 

W^ith  such  aspirations  he  attended  public  worship,  and 
heard  in  the  morning  a  sermon  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Grif- 


56  MEMOIR    OF 

fin,  (then  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Newark,  N.  J.,)  by  which  his  spirit  w^as  greatly  re- 
freshed. "Eloquence  and  truth,"  he  writes  in  the 
afternoon,  "  have  been  set  before  rae  in  a  very  striking 
light.  Thanks  be  to  God  for  raising  up  such  ministers 
for  his  church.  Never  did  truth  appear  to  me  in  a 
more  inviting  form.  Oh !  who  can  praise  thee  suffi- 
ciently, 0  Lord  !  for  thy  abundant  mercy  to  fallen  man  ? 
Oh !  keep  me  from  sin  and  all  iniquity.  Lord !  my 
waiting  eyes  are  unto  thee.  Do  not  deny  thy  unwor- 
thy servant.  Lord  !  make  me  to  know^  thy  holy  char- 
acter, and  remember  me  in  mercy,  for  Christ's  sake." 

Self-reproaches,  however,  continue  to  form  the  bur- 
den of  his  weekly  record.  "  Alas  !"  he  says,  "  July  24, 
how  do  I  serve  my  God !  how  do  I  requite  the  blessed 
Jesus  for  all  his  sufferings !  O,  most  holy  God  !  be 
pleased,  1  humbly  entreat  thee,  to  behold  me  with  pity 
and  tender  compassion.  Oh !  frown  not  on  thy  unwor- 
thy servant  as  I  deserve,  lest  I  die.  How  can  I  live 
w^ithout  thee  1  Oh  !  may  I  desire  none  on  earth  beside 
thee." 

"  July  3L  How  soon  my  pleasures  flee,  how  soon 
my  love  abates !  I  scarcely  learn  to  call  God  my  Fa- 
ther, ere  I  am  to  him  like  a  stranger.  How  long  shall 
I  be  loaded  with  '  the  body  of  this  death  V  How  long 
ere  the  chain  shall  be  broken,  and  I  shall  see  my  God 
as  he  is  ?  Foolish  heart !  why  so  charmed  with  the 
vain  things  of  the  world  ?  why  so  careful  to  acquire 
the  vanities  of  time  1  Knowest  thou  not  that  shortly 
thy  Lord  will  come  ?  Away,  then,  ye  vain  and  foolish 
thoughts  !  The  things  of  time  are  not  \vorth  thy  eter- 
nal loss,  my  soul !  Go,  meditate  upon  the  goodness  of 
God.     There  lies  thy  safety,  there  thy  hope." 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  57 

These  records  show  that  he  was  not  afraid  to  know 
himself.  To  most  men  it  is  a  wearisome  thing  to  be 
always  probing  their  own  hearts,  and  learning  the 
worst  of  themselves.  Even  the  children  of  God,  too 
many  of  them,  are  strangers  at  home.  They  know 
almost  every  thing  else,  connected  with  their  stations  in 
life,  better  than  the  operations  of  their  own  minds. 
They  can  scarcely  be  persuaded  to  enter  upon  the  work 
of  proving  their  own  selves,  much  less  of  making  a 
faithful  record  of  this  examination,  that  they  may  see 
themselves  as  they  are. 

During  the  remainder  of  his  first  year  in  college,  he 
seems  to  have  had  more  comfort  in  religion.  And  even 
w^hen  he  complains  of  himself,  we  see  him  flying  to  the 
cross  for  refuge. 

"  Sept.  4,  Sabbath.  Alas  !  I  have  fallen  again  into 
my  old  way  of  sinning.  I  record  it  to  my  own  shame. 
This  forenoon  my  heart  has  been  roving  after  forbidden 
objects.  O  Jesus,  blessed  Jesus  !  to  thy  blood  would  I 
come  for  remission.  Oh  !  save  me,  or  I  perish.  Thou 
alone,  0  Heavenly  Father !  canst  save.  Thou  alone 
canst  make  my  crimsoned  heart  '  as  white  as  snow,' 
through  a  Redeemer's  blood.  Oh !  come,  enable  me 
to  repent  sincerely,  and  turn  to  thee  with  all  my 
heart." 

The  college-year  closed  on  the  14th  of  September. 
The  vacation,  which  continued  until  the  26th  of  Octo- 
ber, he  passed  with  the  friends  of  his  childhood.  He 
returned  to  college  on  Thursday,  Oct.  27th.  On  Sat- 
urday he  resumes  his  journal,  and  says  :  "  I  have  expe- 
rienced, this  vacation,  the  sovereign  kindness  of  God  in 
upholding  me,  and  granting  me  a  comfortable  supply 
of  the  good  things  of  this  hfe,  and  an  affectionate  in- 
3* 


58  MEMOIR    OF 

terview  with  my  friends.  But,  alas  !  where  has  been 
my  gratitude?  How  has  my  time  run  to  waste  !  Oh 
that  God  would  direct  rae  in  the  way  of  duty !  For- 
give, most  holy  Father !  all  my  multiplied  transgres- 
sions." 

On  Sahhath,  the  30th,  he  is  again  urging  himself  to 
a  more  devotional  frame  :  "  My  affections  to-day  are 
cold  and  languishing.  What,  O  my  soul !  dost  thou 
intend  ?  Shall  T  be  so  lively  in  the  pursuit  of  worldly 
objects,  and  so  cold  in  the  service  of  God  ?  God  for- 
bid. Awake,  my  soul !  this  is  the  day  of  salvation. 
This  day,  thy  Savior  arose  and  burst  the  bars  of  death. 
This  day,  he  made  an  end  of  the  great  work  of  redemp- 
tion. Come,  then,  and  offer  thy  tribute  of  praise; 
come,  join  the  heavenly  throng  and  ascribe  to  God 
blessing,  and  honor,  and  praise  forever  and,  ever." 

He  came,  the  following  Sabbath,  to  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, with  more  than  his  wonted  quietness  of  soul ; — 
"  But  I  fear,"  he  says,  "  my  inward  calmness  arose  too 
much  from  stupidity.  IMy  affections  are  too  languish- 
ing. I  feel  too  little  of  my  dependence  on  God  for  his 
mercies,  as  well  as  unthankful  for  his  goodness.  Alas  ! 
what  am  I  ?  What  are  my  best  performances  ?  Such 
as  must  inevitably  sink  my  soul  to  hell,  unless  the  puri- 
fying^ blood  of  Christ  prevent.  0  Father  of  mercies  I 
behold  me  not  as  I  am  of  myself,  but  in  and  through 
Christ ;  and  may  thy  love  be  imparted  to  my  soul." 

Again  he  is  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  his  guilt, 
and  cries  out,  {Sunday,  JVov.  13) — "Am  much  dis- 
tressed with  evil  thoughts.  It  seems  to  me  that  my 
heart  is  harder  than  the  adamant.  I  am  truly  more 
vile  than  the  children  of  men.  What  a  wonder  of 
mercy  it  is  that  I  am  not  consumed  ! — that  God  has 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  59 

not  come  out  against  me  in  wrath  !  Why  are  the  in- 
vitations of  the  gospel  offered  to  such  a  monster  of  ini- 
quity ?  O  blessed  God !  remember  me  according  to 
thy  loving-kindness.  Overcome  the  mountain  of  my 
iniquities.  If  I  am  ever  saved,  it  must  be  of  free  grace. 
O  lovely  Jesus !  tarry  not,  but  come  quickly,  lest  I 
perish.     '  Lord  !  I  believe ;  help  thou  my  unbelief.'  " 

Another  Sabbath  brings  him  again  into  the  light  of 
God's  countenance  :  "  Sunday,  JVbv.  20.  Felt  much 
delighted  with  Dr.  Dwight's  sermon  this  afternoon. 
What  a  blessing  is  God's  holy  day,  and  his  worship  ! 
how  pleasant  his  word  !  how  just  his  anger  against 
sin  !  Come,  then,  0  my  soul !  praise  the  Lord.  Come, 
take  thy  seat  in  the  dust,  take  shame  to  thyself  that 
thou  hast  sinned  against  him.  What  is  this  world  1 
what  are  its  vanities  and  pleasures  ?  Why  art  thou 
chained  down  to  sense  ?" 

The  record  of  the  next  Sabbath,  at  which  time  he 
appears  to  have  been  almost  ready  to  give  up  his  hope, 
introduces  a  principal  occasion  of  his  trouble :  ^'Sun- 
day, JYov.  27.  How  roving  my  thoughts !  Alas ! 
what  reason  have  I  to  fear  that  I  have  never  *  chosen 
that  good  part  which  shall  not  be  taken  away  from' 
me.  The  concerns  of  this  transitory  life  absorb  my 
thoughts  and  leave  very  little  for  God ;  I  fear  not  any. 
My  hateful  heart !  Who  ever  had  one  so  vile,  so  fool- 
ish, so  sottish,  so  inattentive  to  its  own  interest  ?" 

Like  many  other  worthy  young  men,  he  had  entered 
upon  a  course  of  study,  without  knowing  whence  his 
means  were  to  be  derived.  While  in  his  preparatory 
course,  he  could  dwell  at  home,  and  share  with  his 
father's  family  their  frugal  fare.  But  in  college  he 
must  necessarily  incur  expenses  for  his  daily  suste- 


60  MEMOIR  or 

nance,  which  could  be  met  only  with  money.  His 
godly  father  was  willing  to  go  to  the  extent  of  his 
ability,  but  it  was  more  than  he  was  able  to  meet.  "  In 
the  beginning  of  my  sophomore  year  I  found  myself  in 
debt,  without  money,  and  without  the  hope  of  receiving 
it  immediately  from  my  parents." 

He  was  embarrassed.  He  knew  not  how  to  go  on. 
It  distressed  his  mind  and  depressed  his  spirits.  It  acted 
upon  his  spiritual  comforts,  and  became  a  temptation 
to  him.  "  He  was  very  amhitious  to  excel  as  a  scholar. '^^ 
(So  says  one  who,  in  after  years,  was  admitted  to  his 
utmost  confidence.)  But  this  was  now  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, unless  he  should  be  assisted  by  the  charitable. 
This  he  could  not  think  of  "  He  was  unwilling  to 
receive  aid,"  (as  the  friend,  just  referred  to,  remarks) — 
a  state  of  feeling  which  in  later  years  he  neither  justi- 
fied in  himself,  nor  recommended  to  others.  He  was 
not  so  wilhng  to  be  counted  poor  for  Christ's  sake,  as 
Paul  was,  and  as  every  faithful  minister  should  be,  if 
called  to  make  the  sacrifice.  Although  he  indulged 
not  a  thought  of  drawing  back,  his  mind  was  often 
depressed,  and  subject  to  severe  conflicts.  Here  was 
his  vulneraUe  part,  and  the  adversary,  no  doubt,  took 
advantage  of  it  to  mar  that,  which  he  could  not  entirely 
destroy." 

It  was  under  these  discouragements  that  much  of  the 
preceding  record  was  penned.  This  fact,  while  it  does 
not  excuse  his  want  of  a  more  implicit  faith — a  more 
constantly  "  looking  unto  Jesus,"  yet  sheds  much  hght 
upon  his  darkness. 

He  now  sought,  and  by  the  recommendation  of  a 
college  friend,  obtained  a  situation  for  several  months 
as  teacher.     The  prospect  of  relief  from  pecuniary  em- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  61 

barrassments  had  a  favorable  influence  upon  his  reli- 
gious experience.  "  Give  me,"  said  the  son  of  Jakeh, 
"  neither  poverty  nor  riches ;  feed  me  with  food  con- 
venient for  me."  Neither  of  these  conditions  is  favor- 
able to  serenity  and  cheerful  hope.  They  present 
peculiar  obstacles  and  temptations  : — "  Lest  I  be  full 
and  deny  thee,  and  say — '  Who  is  the  Lord  V  or  lest  I 
be  poor,  and  steal,  and  take  the  name  of  my  God  in 
vain." 

The  next  Sabbath  he  again  approached  the  Lord's 
table,  but  with  more  elevated  affections.  "  Methinks," 
he  says,  "  my  soul  longs  for  Christ.  My  state  of  mind 
this  forenoon  has  been  comfortable,  though  troubled 
with  many  wandering  thoughts.  Blessed  God  !  thou 
hast  seen  my  iniquity  ;  forgive  it  for  Jesus'  sake.  JMy 
iniquities  are  truly  like  mountains,  but  ^  my  Redeemer 
liveth,' — '  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous.'  " 

"  How  solemn,"  he  exclaims  at  the  close  of  the  day, 
"  is  the  house  of  God  !  how  awful  his  majesty,  his  jus- 
tice, his  indignation,  his  holiness !  How  strict  his 
requirements !  The  heart  must  be  given  him — the 
thoughts,  the  affections.  How  awful,  then,  is  the  place 
where  he  meets  to  commune  with  his  people  !  Yet, 
who  would  not  wish  to  be  there  ?  Who  would  not 
wish  to  adore  his  goodness,  justice,  love  and  mercy  to- 
wards his  creatures,  especially  towards  us,  rebel  men  ? 
How  the  pious  heart  will  eternally  mount  up  in  adora- 
tion of  his  perfections  !  Think,  O  my  soul !  is  such  a 
heaven  prepared  for  thee  ?  Yes,  if  thou  dost  repent. 
Away,  then,  with  trifles.  Let  the  sensualist  take  his 
fill  of  carnality ;  the  covetous  sink  amid  the  ruins  of 
his  property  ;  but  for  thee  God  has  a  greater  and  more 
noble  work." 


62  MEMOIR   OF 

He  now  bade  adieu  to'the  halls  of  college,  to  enter 
for  a  time  into  a  new  vocation.  Through  the  recom- 
mendation of  Mr.  Noah  Coe,  (now  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  at  Greenwich,  Conn.,)  who  had 
preceded  him  in  college  three  years,  and  by  whom 
Mr.  B.  was  highly  esteemed,  he  was  admitted  into  the 
family  of  the  Rev.  Azel  Backus,  D.  D.,  of  Bethlem, 
Conn.,  in  the  capacity  of  usher,  or  assistant  teacher. 
Dr.  Backus,  shortly  after  his  settlement  in  1790,  as  the 
successor  of  the  renowned  Bellamy,  opened  a  select 
school  for  the  training  of  young  men  for  college.  This 
school  was  extensively  known,  and  youth  from  remote 
quarters  of  the  land  were  frequently  confided  to  his 
care.  It  partook  very  much  of  the  character  of  a 
household,  as  most  of  the  students  became  members  of 
his  family.  At  first,  and  until  nearly  the  time  to 
which  this  narrative  is  brought,  the  scholars  were  un- 
der the  sole  tuition  of  the  principal.  But  increasing 
occupations  had  constrained  him,  as  in  the  case  of  Mr. 
Coe  and  Mr.  Baldwin,  to  employ  an  assistant. 

The  removal  of  Mr.  Baldwin  to  Bethlem  was  of 
great  personal  advantage.  The  seclusion  of  college- 
life  had  already  operated  very  unfavorably  upon  his 
spirits.  He  needed  to  be  brought  out  into  the  more 
active  duties  of  a  busy  vocation — to  mingle  more  with 
Christians  of  mature  piety  and  rich  experience.  The 
people  of  Bethlem  had  for  nearly  half  a  century  en- 
joyed the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  a  disciple 
of  the  elder  President  Edwards,  and  one  of  the  master- 
spirits of  his  age.  Trained  under  his  energetic  and 
discriminating  ministry,  they  had  learned  to  think,  and 
reason,  and  determine  truth  for  themselves.  To  the 
reputation  and  influence  of  his  great  predecessor,  as 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  63 

well  as  to  his  place,  Dr.  Backus  had  succeeded.  Happy 
indeed  might  the  young  convert  regard  himself  in  being 
permitted  to  avail  himself  of  such  influences  for  the 
cultivation  of  his  faith  and  hope. 

Mr.  Baldwin  did  not  fail  to  appreciate  his  privileges. 
For  Dr.  Backus  he  ever  afterwards  entertained  the 
most  affectionate  respect.  "  Dr.  B.  and  his  lady,"  he 
says,  "  w^ere  kind  and  affectionate  towards  me,  and  I 
have  reason  to  thank  God  for  bringing  me  into  their 
family." 

He  now  earnestly  gave  himself  to  his  new  pursuits. 
Ever  anxious  to  fulfil  his  whole  duty,  he  endeavored  to 
make  himself  as  highly  useful  as  possible.  His  pupils,  of 
whom  many  survive,  bear  testimony  to  his  lively  inter- 
est in  their  welfare,  and  cherish  the  remembrance  of 
their  intercourse  with  him  as  among  their  greatest  bless- 

His  religious  experience  during  this  period  was  quite 
diversified.  At  one  time  we  hear  him  complaining,  as 
formerly,  of  his  miserable  condition,  and  of  the  languid 
state  of  his  affections  : 

"  Saturday,  Feb.  10, 1809.  My  state  of  mind  for  the 
two  past  weeks  ought  to  be  a  matter  of  lamentation  to 
me.  I  live  in  no  manner  as  I  ought.  God,  indeed,  has 
continued  to  me  his  blessing.  Every  morning  has  shed 
its  peaceful  light  around  me,  while  the  evening  has 
continually  returned  to  refresh  my  wearied  body.  Who 
can  speak  of  the  mercies  of  God  ?  Who  can  exhaust 
the  riches  of  his  grace  1  I  feel  myself  much  tied  down 
to  the  pleasures  of  the  world,  to  light  thoughts  and  con- 
versation. I  do  not  spend  God's  holy  day  as  I  ought. 
Pride  kills  all  my  pleasure.  I  ask  amiss  and  receive 
not.  *  *  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  !'     O  blessed 


64  MEMOIR    OF 

Jesus  !  to  thy  cross  would  I  flee.  I  know  that  with 
thee  it  is  all  the  same  to  forgive  few  or  many  trans- 
gressions.    AVash  my  soul  from  every  sin." 

At  another  time  wo  hear  him  breaking  forth  in 
praises  for  the  enjoyment  of  God's  love.  Under  date 
of  Sundai/,  Feb.  18,  he  says,  "  Saturday  evening  was 
with  me  a  peculiar  time.  If  I  am  not  deluded,  if  I  am 
not  flattering  myself  with  false  hopes,  I  experienced 
some  of  the  blessed  influences  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  the 
effects  of  his  sovereign  love.  ]\Iy  mind  to-day  has 
been  calm.  A  serenity  possesses  my  soul.  *  *  Continue 
to  me,  0  Lord  !  the  favor  of  thy  reconciled  countenance. 
Keep  me  from  temptation.  Wash  this  polluted  heart 
in  the  blood  of  Jesus.  Not  unto  me,  not  unto  me,  but 
to  thy  name  be  all  the  glory.  If  I  am  deceived  and 
know  not  my  own  heart,  discover  it  to  me." 

"  My  views  and  feelings  on  Saturday  evening  were 
much  the  same  with  those  I  experienced  at  the  time 
when  I  dared  to  hope  that  I  loved  a  Savior."  (Then 
follows  the  extract  ah'eady  given, page  37,  in  describing 
his  conversion.)  "  This  state  of  mind,"  he  adds, "  held 
me  during  the  evening.  In  the  morning  of  God's  holy 
day,  I  awoke  in  the  same  frame,  with,  however,  a  dim- 
inution of  my  joys.  During  the  day  my  soul  seemed 
to  rejoice  in  God,  though  I  have  to  lament  my  sins 
even  on  this  day,  and  am  conscious  that  if  my  best  act 
of  worship  was  weighed  in  the  balance  of  God's  jus- 
tice, it  would  be  found  wanting." 

This  exalted  state  of  spiritual  enjoyment  did  not 
long  continue.  He  soon  returns  to  his  former  self- 
accusations.  But  it  left  its  savor  behind.  It  served  to 
increase  his  faith  and  renew  his  hope.  It  led  him,  in 
future  hours  of  darkness,  more  readily  and  directly  to 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  65 

the  cross  as  his  only  refuge.  His  experience  from  this 
period  took  a  somewhat  higher  character.  Saturday 
evening,  March  17,  finds  him  engaged  in  the  following 
meditations : 

"  The  Sabbath  has  once  more  returned  to  bless  my 
soul.  Surely  God  is  '  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.'  My 
sins  the  week  past  have  been  many,  yet  God  has  not 
been  provoked  to  cut  me  off;  the  flames  of  hell  have 
not  laid  hold  of  me ;  a  door  is  open  for  repentance. 
Look  back,  my  soul !  see  what  thou  hast  escaped.  Am 
I  truly  born  again  ?  O  amazing  love  !  Why  should 
I  be  taken  and  others  left  ?  Why  are  my  intimates 
left  under  condemnation  rather  than  1 1  '  Even  so. 
Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight.' — Yet,  O 
my  soul !  be  still,  look  well  to  thy  case,  thou  mayest  yet 
be  deceived.  '  The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things 
and  desperately  wicked ;  who  can  know  it  V  who  can 
trace  its  windings  ?" 

There  w^ere,  as  it  thus  appears,  seasons  when  he 
could  not  but  hope,  and  '^  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory 
of  God."  Yet  so  conscientious  and  self  scrutinizing 
w^as  he  that  he  scarcely  dared  to  cherish  that  hope,  lest 
he  might  be  deceived.  Though  admitted  into  the  lib- 
erty of  the  gospel,  he  had  not  yet  learned  fully  to  cast 
off  the  bondage  under  which  he  had  been  held.  This 
appears  also  from  the  following  meditations  of  Sunday 
evening,  April  2 : 

"  I  have  had  a  strange  mixture  of  feehngs  to-day ; 
at  one  moment  divine,  at  the  next  worldly,  things 
seem  to  occupy  my  heart.  Am  I  then  divided  ?  or  am 
I  in  love  with  mammon  only  1  Ah  !  who  can  tell  the 
deceitfulness  of  the  human  heart?  'O  wretched  man 
that  I  am !  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this 


66  MEMOIR   OF 

death  V  My  heart  is  cankered  with  sin.  Blessed  Je- 
sus !  to  thy  arms  I  fly ;  there  is  no  other  Savior ;  I 
want  no  other  Savior.  Humble  me  in  the  dust  before 
thee.     Make  me  to  know  myself." 

An  interval  of  more  than  a  month  now  elapses,  dur- 
ing which  he  seems  to  have  gone  more  into  society, 
and  to  have  mingled  more  with  the  people  of  the  world 
than  at  any  time  since  his  public  profession.  The  ef- 
fect of  this  change  appears  in  the  following  record  of 
his  thoughts : 

"  Sunday  evenings  May  7.  My  hand  shall  confess 
with  my  thoughts.  For  some  weeks  past  I  have  got 
more  into  the  world  than  ever  since  my  profession  of 
religion.  My  secret  duties  have  been  continued,  but 
my  life  has  fled.  Wandering  thoughts  perplex  me.  A 
kind  of  uneasiness  fastens  upon  me.  '  My  joys  are 
gone.'  0  miserable  world  !  how  dear  is  thy  purchase ! 
And  shall  I  give  up  all  for  thee  ?  No. — Away,  ye 
things  of  sense! — away,  ye  sinful  pleasures!  ye  child- 
ish toys ! — away,  ye  alluring  objects  that  would  entice 
me  from  the  Savior ! — away,  ye  favorites  more  beloved 
than  Jesus !  Trouble  me  no  more.  Death  lies  con- 
cealed under  the  fair  appearance.  A  miserable  eter- 
nity is  too  dear  a  purchase.  The  loss  of  Jesus  out- 
weighs you  alL" 

What  young  Christian  has  not  found  to  his  cost 
the  truth  of  the  above  declarations  1  W^hat  a  misera- 
ble exchange  do  they  make,  who  part  with  the  pres- 
ence and  smiles  of  Jesus,  for  the  pleasures  of  the  world  ! 
Let  them  forsake  its  gilded  vanities,  and  unite  with  the 
penitent  Baldwin  in  the  prayer,  with  which,  under  a 
sense  of  his  guilt,  he  now  approaches  the  mercy-seat : 

^*  Almighty  God  !  be  pleased  to  hear  the  prayer  of 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  67 

an  unworthy  sinner.  I  have  transgressed  thy  law  and 
gospel.  From  my  infancy  to  this  time,  I  have  not 
ceased  to  provoke  thee  by  my  continued  transgression. 
Before  thy  bar  1  cannot  answer  for  one  of  a  thousand 
of  my  transgressions.  In  the  name  of  Jesus  would  I 
come  ;  his  merits  would  I  plead.  *  Is  there  no  balm  in 
Gilead  ?  Is  there  no  physician  there  V  May  I  not 
humbly  hope  that,  for  Jesus'  sake,  thou  wilt  put  away 
the  sin  of  thy  servant  ?  May  it  not  be  for  thy  glory, 
for  the  honor  of  thy  name  ?  Though  my  ^  sins  be  as 
scarlet,'  the  blood  of  Jesus  can  make  them  '  white  as 
snow.'  My  soul  finds  no  rest.  My  enemies  are  too 
strong  for  me.  The  snares  of  the  world  catch  me.  I 
am  defiled,  and  my  beloved  is  gone.  If  I  do  not  love 
thy  law,  if  I  have  deceived  myself.  Oh !  undeceive  me  ! 
Tear  away  the  veil  that  hides  from  me  my  heart.  '  Be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner.'  Where  I  have  done  wrong, 
may  I  do  so  no  more." 

As  the  Christian  grows  in  grace,  and  in  the  know- 
ledge of  Christ  his  Lord,  he  learns  to  entertain  more 
humbling  views  of  himself  and  his  own  attainments. 
This  feature  of  Christian  experience  has  been  well  ex- 
pressed by  Dr.  Watts : 

"  The  more  thy  glories  strike  my  eyes, 
The  humbler  I  shall  lie  j 
Thus  while  I  sink  my  joys  shall  rise 
Immeasurably  high." 

This  evidence  of  Mr.  B.'s  growth  in  grace  increases  as 
we  proceed. 

"  June  4.  It  is  now  more  than  a  year  since  I  took  the 
vows  of  the  Lord  upon  me.  Of  my  profession  of  reh- 
gion  I  neither  repent  nor  am  ashamed.     Christ's  cause 


68  MEMOIR    OF 

is  well  worthy  the  exertions  of  men  and  angels.  Im- 
mortality is  a  word  of  too  much  importance  to  be  a 
subject  of  trifling.  The  scoffs  of  unbelievers  are  for  a 
moment.  Death  will  change  the  tone.  The  foolish 
babblings  of  the  profane  against  Christianity,  their 
sneers  and  contempt  of  divine  subjects  have  served  to 
discover  to  me  the  excellency  of  rehgion.  The  more  I 
see  of  the  world  the  more  I  discover  the  depravity  of 
the  human  heart.  It  is  easier  for  infidels  to  scoff  than 
to  confide  in  men  of  their  own  stamp. 

"  My  life  since  I  have  taken  the  vows  of  God  upon 
me,  has  been  most  ungrateful.  I  have  a  thousand 
times  merited  swift  destruction.  Nothing  but  the  infi- 
nite mercy  of  God  sustains  me  in  being.  My  heart 
appears  to  me  daily  more  hard.  If  I  am  ever  saved  it 
must  be  in  and  through  Christ  alone.  Not  unto  me, 
but  unto  thy  name,  O  Lord  !  be  all  the  glory.  I  find 
from  experience,  that  the  doctrines  of  God's  sovereignty 
and  of  election  appear  more  plain  to  me  every  day. 
Let  man  take  his  seat  in  the  dust,  and  God  be  all  in 
all.  Let  the  righteousness  of  man  sink  to  naught  in 
point  of  justification,  and  my  soul  stand  acquitted 
throuo;h  the  merits  of  Christ's  blood  alone. 

"  I  have  much  reason  to  lament  my  habitual  stupid- 
ity. Now  and  then  my  soul  has  seemed  to  mount 
above  the  things  of  time  and  sense ;  but  I  have  been 
far  from  having  that  habitual  sense  of  God's  presence 
which  I  ought  to  have.  I  have  been  far  from  fulfilling 
my  engagements  to  God.  Justly  might  I  be  sentenced 
to  everlasting  wo.  Justly  might  I  be  deprived  of  the 
light  of  God's  countenance.  Yet,  praised  be  the  name 
of  God  !  I  have  a  hope  of  glory.  Notwithstanding  all 
my  unfruitfulness,  I  know  there  is  a  Redeemer, — yes, 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  69 

/  know  il.  The  blessed  Jesus  will  remove  sin  from 
those  to  whom  it  is  a  hurden.  From  this  time,  O  Hea- 
venly Father !   may  I  live  to  thy  glory." 

In  the  record  that  follows,  we  perceive  how  sensibly 
he  felt  the  contaminating  influence  of  worldly  conver- 
sation, though  indulged  in  by  professors  of  religion : 
"  Saturday  evening,  July  8.  Complied  with  an  invi- 
tation to  take  tea  at  Mrs.  L 's.     The  company  was 

composed  of  three  church-members  besides  myself,  and 
four  or  five  others.  The  conversation  was  according 
to  the  present  mode  of  the  polite  world.  I  joined  in 
the  chat ;  followed  the  example  set  me ;  staid  till 
nearly  sunset ;  returned  unprepared  for  the  Sabbath ; 
and  now  what  am  I  to  expect  ?  I  have  lost  an  after- 
noon, and  I  fear  a  Sabbath.  O  my  God !  it  is  good 
that  I  should  be  chastened.  I  have  deserved  it  at  thy 
hands.  Yet,  I  beseech  thee,  cast  me  not  off  forever. 
Forgive  the  sin  of  this  day.  May  I  yet  experience  thy 
loving-kindness.  Meet  with  me  in  mercy  at  this  time. 
Help  me  to  pray,  and  grant  me  true  repentance,  for 
Christ's  sake." 

The  sincere  Christian  is  ever  anxious  "  to  have  always 
a  conscience  void  of  offence  toward  God  and  toward 
men."  It  is  not  enough  with  him  that  he  walks  unblam- 
ably  before  the  world.  He  sets  the  Lord  before  him  in  all 
his  ways,  and  he  cannot  be  at  peace,  so  long  as  the  holy 
eye  of  God  discovers  some  lust  lurking  within  his  bo- 
som. He  is  more  anxious  for  the  favor  of  his  God  than 
of  all  others.  The  least  sin,  therefore,  grieves  him,  be- 
cause he  knows  that  it  grieves  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God. 
He  grieves  on  account  not  only  of  what  he  has  done, 
but  of  what  he  has  not  done, — has  left  undone,  and  so 


70  MEMOIR   OF 

come  short  of  his  duty.  We  have  an  instance  of  this 
experience  in  the  following  extract  : 

"Sabbath  afternoon,  July  16.  Almighty  God  !  thou 
art  acquainted  with  all  my  sin — the  sin  of  this  day.  I 
have  polluted  thy  Sabbath.  I  beseech  thee,  Father  of 
mercies !  forgive  the  sin  of  thy  servant,  for  it  is  great. 
Why  should  thy  wrath  wax  hot  against  a  worm? 
Banish  me  not  from  thy  presence,  lest  I  die.  May  the 
blood  of  Jesus  be  applied  to  cleanse  my  soul.  Bow,  I 
beseech  thee,  this  stubborn  heart.  Implant  within  me 
a  hatred  of  sin,  a  loathing  of  my  own  character.  With- 
out thee,  O  Father  !  I  can  do  nothing.  Through  Christ 
strengthening  me,  I  can  do  all  things.  Wilt  thou  hear 
in  heaven,  thy  holy  dwelling  place,  and  grant  me  this 
weak  petition." 

The  carefulness  wdth  w^hich  he  scrutinizes  even  his 
holiest  emotions,  is  exhibited  in  his  journal  under  the 
date  of  "  Sunday  morning,  July  23.  I  am  weary  of 
this  world.  But  for  what  ?  Here  lies  the  important 
inquiry.  Why  is  the  thought  of  long  life  unpleasant  to 
me  1  Because  I  shrink  from  sin  ?  because  I  fear  the 
allurements  of  a  sinful  world  ?  Or  is  it  rather  because 
I  see  nothing  in  my  future  prospects  calculated  to  flat- 
ter my  pride  ?  Am  I  willing  to  wait  God's  call,  to  go 
or  stay  ?  Soul !  w^as  it  know^n  to  thee  to-day  that  thy 
life  should  be  fourscore  years,  filled  up  \vith  pain  and 
poverty,  far  from  applause,  and  replete  wdth  earthly 
disappointments,  what  would  be  thy  language  1 — '  The 
will  of  God  be  done  V  Couldst  thou  take  Christ  alone 
for  thy  portion  ?     Is  Jesus  love  enough  ?" 

Again  we  find  him  upon  the  mount, but  treading  softly 
for  fear  of  a  fall :  "  Lord^s  day  morning,  July  30.  Ex- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  71 

perienced  the  last  evening,  if  I  am  not  deceived,  the  lov- 
ing-kindness of  God  in  discovering  to  me  the  beauty  and 
excellency  of  eternal  truth — of  his  character.  My  feel- 
ings were  similar  to  what  I  experienced  on  the  17th  of 
last  February.  '  Let  God  be  true  and  every  man  a  liar !' 
was  the  language  of  my  soul.  The  impression  is  still 
upon  my  mind,  and  I  dread  the  thought  of  being  left  to 
myself.  Though  I  feel  more  strengthened  in  my  hope  for 
heaven  by  such  discoveries,  and  a  surer  evidence  that 
I  am  not  deceived,  my  danger  of  falling  into  sin,  and 
the  misery  of  trusting  to  myself  appear  greater.  If  I 
am  saved,  it  must  be  of  sovereign  grace.  Oh  !  I  am 
burdened  with  this  body  of  flesh.  When  shall  my  de- 
liverance come  ?  When  shall  I  cease  to  wound  the 
blessed  Jesus  ? — to  violate  God's  law  ?  When  shall 
the  tinselled  ornaments  of  a  giddy  world  cease  to 
charm  ?  But  why  such  inquiries  1  ^  It  is  the  Lord  ; 
let  him  do  what  seemeth  him  good.'  The  Lord's  time 
is  the  best  time.  Till  then,  my  soul !  be  still.  The 
fightings  and  perils  of  this  life  will  work  for  me 
'  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.' 
Let  me  then  go  forward  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord. 
Devils,  earth,  and  hell !  ye  rage  in  vain.  Jesus  is  my 
keeper.  A  few  more  conflicts  and  all  will  be  well  ;  a 
heaven  obtained,  not  as  the  price  of  my  miserable  du- 
ties, but  as  the  gift  of  a  holy  God  in  and  through  Jesus. 
Oh !  let  me  enjoy  the  love  of  Jesus,  and,  ye  worldlings  ! 
take  your  fill  of  earthly  pleasure.  I  do  not  envy  you 
your  enjoyments.  Hard  is  your  lot — among  thorns 
w^hich  are  fuel  for  the  fire  of  hell.  Ere  long  your 
mirth  shall  cease.  The  lord  have  mercy  on  thoughtless 
sinners." 

The  comforts  of  the  young  Christian  are  often  sub- 


72  MEMOIR   OF 

ject  to  interruptions.  Temptations  more  frequently 
than  with  older  believers  overcome  him.  He  is  more 
liable,  such  is  the  ardor  of  his  expectations,  to  disap- 
pointments. All  these,  however,  work  together  for 
his  good.  This  "  tribulation  worketh  patience  ;  and 
patience,  experience;  and  experience,  hope;  and  hope 
maketh  not  ashamed.''  He  thus  obtains  in  the  end  a 
"  full  assurance  of  hope" — a  hope  that  will  not  deceive 
his  soul. 

It  would  seem  from  I\Ir.  B.'s  journal,  that  he  had  in 
some  way  been  beguiled  by  a  sort  of  fashionable  reli- 
gion, and  had  met  with  some  disappointments  in  his 
expectations  of  pleasure  from  this  source.  This  gives 
him  occasion  two  or  three  weeks  after,  to  express  him- 
self as  follows : 

"  God  willing,  I  will  make  a  stand  against  my  ene- 
mies. Well  I  know  the  source  of  all  my  misery.  O 
my  enemy  !  rejoice  not  over  me.  Hitherto  I  have 
fought  alone.  God  will  now  be  my  helper.  I  shall 
yet  have  the  victory.  Though  I  fall  a  thousand  times, 
it  will  only  make  me  stronger.  It  will  only  show  me 
my  own  weakness.  Here  lies  ray  strength.  Great 
and  eternal  God  !  I  thank  thee  for  every  denial — for 
every  cross  and  disappointment.  I  would  trust  thy 
grace.  To  thee  I  submit.  Here  am  I,  do  with  me  as 
shall  seem  good  in  thy  sight.  Grant  me,  I  beseech 
thee,  a  new  heart,  and  may  I  live  to  thy  glory,  for  the 
sake  of  Jesus." 

"  How  httle,"  he  adds,  "  do  I  think  of  God  !  Hence 
all  my  backslidings  ;  hence  all  my  leanness  of  soul ; 
hence  Satan  takes  occasion  to  buffet  me  and  to  tickle 
my  fancy  with  worldly  good  and  honor.  I  have  ven- 
tured and  anticipated.     The  phantom  has  come  within 


RtV.    DK.    BALDWIN.  73 

reach,  and  I  see  its  deformity.  I  have  been  duped  by 
the  name  of  religion.  I  have  tried  fashionable  piety, 
and  it  will  not  do.  It  does  not  feed  the  soul.  If  God 
be  with  me,  1  will  stray  no  more.  1  leave  the  world 
to  those  who  love  it — its  honors  to  those  who  court 
them — its  ease  to  those  who  want  it.  I  was  not  made 
for  the  world — 710,  not  to  go  a  round  of  pleasure,  hang 
on  princes'  favor,  to  attract  attention  and  to  live  on 
smiles.  I  have  a  soul.  Alas!  why  did  I  forget  it  ?  / 
have  a  soul !  How  solemn  the  thought !  How  much 
does  it  bring  to  mind  !  O  thou  Immortal  Fiat  I  how 
have  I  wronged  thee  !  How  have  I  fed  my  appetites 
at  thy  expense  !  Blessed  be  God !  the  delusion  is 
gone.  There  is  nothing  desirable  in  this  evil  world 
but  what  points  to  heaven.  Mankind  are  distracted. 
There  is  nothing  in  this  outward  show — this  noisy  bus- 
tle. For  one  smile  from  Jesus  I  would,  were  it  pos- 
sible, sell  a  world  with  all  the  ornaments  which  gild  it 
in  the  eyes  of  men.  Happiness  is  as  much  within  my 
reach  as  though  I  had  my  millions.  O  blessed  God  ! 
hear,  I  beseech  thee,  the  prayer  of  thy  unworthy  ser- 
vant.    Be  thou  my  guide  and  my  portion  forever." 

He  continued  to  smart  under  this  disappointment  for 
a  considerable  time,  and  to  make  it  an  occasion  of  hu- 
miliation before  God.  "  Sunday  tiiorning,  Aug.  27. 
I  can  realize  the  feelings  which  I  have  often  experi- 
enced in  view  of  the  eternal  world.  When  I  dared  to 
look  to  a  crucified  Savior,  and  thought  I  could  say — 
*  World !  stand  behind  me  !' — -how  sweet  were  my  joys ! 
For  a  moment  the  victory  appeared  complete,  and  sin 
vanquished.  I  looked  towards  heaven  as  my  home, 
and  like  a  bewildered  traveller  exulted  with  the  thought 
— ^  erelong  I  shall  leave  this  world  of  sorrow,  where 

4 


74  MEMOIR    OF 

sin  tarnishes  and  mars  my  joys !' — *  Christ  keeps  his 
saints' — was  a  thought  which  turned  every  sorrow 
into  pleasure  ;  which  gilded  the  path  of  life  with  more 
than  mortal  beauty.  I  looked  upon  all  mankind  as  my 
brethren,  or  as  objects  of  compassion.  The  childish 
toys,  which  catch  the  feehngs  of  the  great,  and  call 
forth  in  their  pursuit  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  excited 
neither  ray  envy  nor  my  desire.  A  life  of  usefulness 
was  my  highest  wish.  Such  w^ere  my  thoughts,  and 
the  recollection  is  still  pleasing. 

"  Oh  !  had  I  always  lived  as  I  anticipated — ^had  I 
never  thought  the  world  worth  having,  and  still  went 
forward  with  an  eye  on  heaven,  the  pleasure  had  lasted 
till  now.  The  tempter  had  never  dared  to  suggest — 
*  honor  is  life,  and  esteem  from  man  with  religion 
enough  to  get  to  heaven  the  end  of  life.'  He  had 
never  said  to  me — '  this  principle,  too  rigidly  opposed 
to  the  pursuits  of  modern  gentlemen,  and  so  incongru- 
ous with  the  vices  of  fashionable  Christians,  must  be 
smothered  ;  and  that  harmless  liberality  of  sentiment 
adopted.'  Where  is  'harmless  liberality  of  sentiment  V 
What  is  its  import  ?  '  Every  idle  word  that  men  shall 
speak  they  shall  give  account  thereof  in  the  day  of 
judgment.'  Whatsoever  is  liberal  beyond — '  do  all  to 
the  giory  of  God' — is  sin, — a  breach  of  the  moral  law 
— a  stain  on  the  morality  of  a  professor.  Away,  then, 
religion  formed  of  fashionable  principles — of  the  senti- 
ments of  the  day !  May  the  Lord  deliver  me  from 
your  lusts." 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  75 


^  CHAPTER    IV. 

Leaves  Betblem. — Short  abode  at  Litchfield. — Removes  to  Fair- 
field.— Reverence  for  Dr.  Dvi'ight. — Rules  for  self-examina- 
tion.— Visits  his  native  place. — Returns  to  College. — Revisits 
Durham. — Teacher  at  Woodbridge,  Conn.— Ophthalmia. — 
Finishes  his  college-course. 

Having  completed  the  term  of  his  engagement  at 
Bethlem,  he  left  about  September  1st,  and  made  a  visit 
to  the  home  of  his  youth.  Here  he  remained  for 
nearly  three  weeks,  and  was  greatly  refreshed  both  in 
body  and  mind. 

He  left  Durham,  and  arrived  at  Litchfield  on  the  2 1st 
of  September,  where  he  remained  scarcely  two  months. 
His  state  of  mind  at  this  time  may  be  gathered  from 
the  following  entry  in  his  journal  :  "  September  23.  If 
I  were  thankful  for  my  pleasures — the  good  things  that 
I  enjoy, — if  my  soul  mounted  up  to  heaven  at  the 
thought  of  a  suffering  Savior,  an  Almighty  friend, — if 
I  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  wounding  anew  those 
hands  which  were  once  wounded  for  sinners, — if  the 
world  and  its  allurements  were  lost  in  contemplation  of 
the  heavenly  mansions, — then  should  I  act  the  part  of 
a  rational  being.  But  alas  !  what  am  I?  For  which 
of  my  mercies  have  I  been  thankful  ?  Where  is  my 
home  1     *  God  !  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.'  " 

Shortly  after  we  find  him  musing  on  the  love  of  his 
Savior.  "  Saturday  evening,  Oct.  7.  Who  can  speak 
the  love  of  Jesus  ?  '  Perad venture  for  a  good  man 
some  would  even  dare  to  die.'     A  Christian  might 


76  MEMOIR    OF 

choose  to  die  to  be  with  Christ.  This  world  is,  at  the 
best,  a  world  of  sorrow  and  of  sin  ;  not  unfrequently  its 
enjoyments  are  loathsome  to  the  Christian.  His  perils 
and  a  glorious  hope  enable  him  to  cry  out — 'Lord! 
now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace?-— But 
who  would  die  as  Christ  did — not  for  his  friends,  not 
for  his  country,  not  for  worth,  nor  for  innocence,  but 
for  the  rebels  against  his  government — the  friends  of 
Satan,  the  men  who  reared  his  cross,  who  insulted  his 
agony,  and  hissed  their  applause  when  he  expired  ? 
Be  astonished,  O  earth !  Well  might  the  sun  grow 
dim,  the  rocks  rend,  and  nature  threaten  dissolution. 
Let  philosophy  boast  her  heroes ;  religion  boasts  her 
God.  Christ  loved  like  a  God.  But— Oh  !  should  that 
love  kindle  the  flames  of  hell  around  me,  how  dreadful 
would  be  that  hell !" 

Once  more  we  behold  him  soaring  on  the  wings  of 
faith  above  the  world,  and  antedating  the  joj^s  of 
heaven.  "  Sunday  morning,  Oct.  8.  How  pleasant  is 
the  Sabbath  !  Surely  these  are  the  beginnings  of  hea- 
ven, an  eternal  Sabbath.  Oh!  could  I  mount  the 
starry  skies,  and  mingle  with  the  angels  in  crying — 
'  Hallelujah  to  the  Lord  God  Almighty  and  to  the 
Lamb' — ye  kindred  spirits  saved  from  hell,  and  ye  an- 
gelic hosts  should  witness  how  I  would  praise  my  God. 
Before  his  throne,  beneath  his  feet,  I  would  sit  me 
down,  nor  would  he  frown  me  from  his  face.  The 
Redeemer  lives !  Yes,  I  know  it.  And  erelong  I 
shall  ascend  to  view  his  glory,  and  drink  in  the  living 
waters  of  his  love.  Oh  !  where  is  my  beloved  ?  He 
passes  by  me,  and  I  perceive  him  not.  Yet,  methinks 
I  feel  his  love.  I  hear  his  voice — '  I  will  never  leave 
thee  nor  forsake  thee.'     This  shall  be  my  strength  till 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  77 

my  Redeemer  come.  Ye  lingering  months  and  years  ! 
roll  on.  Come,  happy,  glorious  day  !  when  e\'^ry  eye 
shall  see  its  God, — when  mortality  shall  put  on  im- 
mortality,— when  the  archangel's  trump  shall  shake 
the  eaEjth.  rend  the  graves,  collect  the  scattered  dust  of 
depa^3  mortals,  and  array,  before  the  throne  of  God, 
the  created  universe." 

There  is  a  degree  of  confidence,  in  the  above  expres- 
sion of  his  feelings,  quite  foreign  from  his  ordinary  ex- 
perience, and  savoring  somewhat  of  exultation.  There 
is  wanting  that  deep  humiliation  which  at  other  times 
so  characterized  his  feelings,  and  led  him  to  distrust 
himself  and  his  hopes.  He  seems  to  be  in  just  such  a 
situation  as  leads  us  to  expect  a  speedy  overthrow  of 
his  confidence. 

Accordingly  the  very  next  day  he  is  as  much  cast 
down,  as  he  had  previously  been  exalted.  "  Returned," 
he  says  in  the  evening  of  Monday,  "  from  Bethlem  this 
morning,  after  a  visit  which  has  caused  me  the  most 
poignant  distress.  'A  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear  V 
Oh  !  may  I  never  forget  this  visit !  May  it  be  stamped 
on  my  memory  in  brazen  characters  !  God  was  gra- 
cious to  me,  but  alas  !  how  I  requited  him  !  Be  memo- 
rable that  evening  to  my  shame,  when  among  my 
youthful  companions  I  indulged  in  the  foolish  chit-chat 
of  the  day.  0  fashionable  religion  !  how^  often  hast 
thou  pierced  my  soul  with  sorrows  !  Forgive  me,  bless- 
ed Jesus  !  To  thy  dear  cross  I  flee.  Thou  must  par- 
don or  I  perish.     Be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner!" 

He  continued  at  Litchfield  until  the  second  week  in 
November.  The  exercises  of  his  mind  appear  to  have 
been  during  this  period  of  an  humbling  character,  differ- 
ing but  little  from  those  to  which  he  had,  for  the  most 


78  MEMOIR    OF 

part,  been  accustomed.  He  removed  thence  to  Fairfield, 
where  he  arrived  November  16th,  to  take  charge  of  the 
academy  in  that  place.  This  situation  he  occupied 
about  five  months.  As  his  sphere  of  useful^^thus 
became  enlarged,  and  his  thoughts  were  mor^^Bded 
to  the  welfare  of  others,  he  appears  to  have  a^ffnded 
more  in  the  comforts  of  religion.  In  respect  to  his 
worldly  circumstances  at  this  time,  he  remarks, — "  My 
arrival  here  was  under  the  most  disagreeable  appear- 
ances. I  had  no  promise  of  any  thing  more  than  the 
bare  payment  of  my  expenses  of  living.  I  came  empty 
and  not  a  little  depressed  in  my  feelings." 

The  scene,  however,  soon  assumed  a  brighter  aspect; 
for  we  find  him  saying  on  the  second  day  after  his  ar- 
rivalj — "  God  has  dealt  well  by  me.  I  have  enough 
of  the  good  things  of  life,  friends  and  benefactors." 
Referring  to  his  spiritual  prospects,  he  adds, — "  There 
is  one  thing  which,  if  I  mistake  not,  gives  me  plea- 
sure— God  mil  be  glorified.  Sin  with  all  its  conse- 
quences shall  redound  to  his  praise.  What  becomes  of 
me  is  of  but  little  consequence.  I  am  and  ever  have 
been  an  unprofitable  servant,  an  unfruitful  vine.  Should 
I  be  cast  off,  it  would  be  just ;  or  should  I  be  saved,  the 
grace  of  God  would  be  manifest  in  snatching  one  of 
the  most  hell-deserving  from  the  punishment  due  to 
his  sins.  Why,  then,  am  I  so  much  concerned  for 
self,  and  not  for  the  glory  of  God  ?  W^hy  not  rather 
concerned  for  the  cause  of  God  ?  jNIy  welfare,  in  com- 
parison with  the  happiness  of  the  universe,  is  as  no- 
thing, and  less  than  nothing,  compared  with  the  glory 
of  God.  Foolish,  selfish  mortal !  Look  around  thee. 
Are  not  these  souls  as  precious  as  thine  ? — as  capable 
of  happiness  or  misery  ?     Have  not  many  of  them 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  79 

sinned  less,  had  fewer  offers  of  mercy,  abused  less 
privileges'?  Why  should  not  Christ  have  mercy  on 
them  and  cast  you  oif  ?  Lord  !  I  acknowledge  it  would 
be  just  in  thee  to  make  me  miserable.  Make  me,  I 
bes^mthee,  humble,  penitent.  Help  me  to  pray — 
*  Th^Engdom  come,  thy  will  be  done.'  Have  mercy 
on  a  lost  and  a  ruined  world.  Hasten  the  glory  of  thy 
kingdom.  May  the  blessed  Savior  ^  see  of  the  travail 
of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied.'  And  may  I  be  still  and 
know  that  thou  art  God." 

The  direction  thus  given  to  his  thoughts  was  of 
great  service  to  his  peace,  as  appears  from  what  he 
says  — "  Lord's  day  mornings  Dec.  18.  Feel  calm  this 
morning.  Surely  the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord  is  a  delight. 
What,  then,  must  be  the  Sabbath  of  heavenly  rest 
which  remains  for  the  people  of  God  ?  How  pleasant 
will  worship  be,  where  no  thought  shall  intrude  to 
draw  the  mind  from  divine  contemplation!  Earth 
shall  then  have  fled,  its  cares  have  perished,  and  eter- 
nity have  shut  out  the  thoughts  of  time.  O  glorious 
day!  the  day  of  days  ;  a  day  which  every  eye  in  heav- 
en and  earth  and  hell  shall  see  j  a  day  which  every 
saint  shall  hail  as  his  day.  How  w^onderful  the  provi- 
sion of  the  gospel !  This  is  the  gift  of  God — worthy  of 
the  majesty  of  the  Supreme.  How  unworthy  the  re- 
ceiver !  ^  Herein  is  love.'  W^ere  it  given  to  angels 
only,  it  would  be  infinite  goodness.  But  that  man 
should  be  the  object,  how  wonderful !  Come,  O  my 
soul  and  all  that  is  within  me  !  praise  the  Lord  j  Oh  ! 
praise  him  for  his  unspeakable  gift." 

At  the  close  of  the  w^eek  his  thoughts  appear  to 
have  been  occupied  still  with  spiritual  things.  "  Sat- 
urday evening,  Dec.  23.     The  hour  of  death  is  an  hon- 


80  MEMOIR    OF 

est  hour.  But  ah  !  it  comes  but  once.  Mankind  can 
die  but  once.  Once  lost — lost  forever.  How  should 
this  truth  drive  me  to  diligence  !  To  me  all  things  are 
uncertain.  This  night  may  be  my  last ;  this  Sabbath, 
the  closing  of  my  Sabbaths  on  earth.  Oh  !  ^hkiei  I 
alive,  while  my  friends  and  neighbors  are  dyin^BR)und 
me  ?  Surely  God  is  merciful.  Blessed  be  thy  holy 
name,  0  thou,  my  preserver  I  I  am  not  rewarded  ac- 
cording to  my  folly.  It  is  because  thy  compassions 
fail  not." 

The  next  day  finds  him  in  a  very  pleasant  frame  : 
"  Lord's  day,  Dec.  24.  God  has  been  merciful  to  me 
to-day.  Oh  for  a  thousand  such  Sabbaths  !  Surely 
these  must  be  the  beginning  of  heaven.  Sabbaths  are 
the  Christian's  heaven  on  earth.  Blessed  be  God  far 
his  mercy  in  giving  this  day  to  Christians.  Christ 
knows  the  w^ants  of  his  saints  ;  he  knows  that  they  are 
but  dust,  and  his  mercy  has  provided  for  all  their 
wants." 

As  he  approaches  the  end  of  the  year  he  gives  him- 
self still  more  to  reflection,  to  self-examination,  to  a 
casting  up  of  his  accounts  w^ith  God.  "  I  make  reso- 
lutions," he  says,  "  and  break  them.  When  I  look 
back,  life  presents  me  with  a  black  catalogue  of  crimes. 
O  sinful  mortal !  Lord  Jesus !  '  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner.' " 

He  commences  the  new-  year  with  renewed  determi- 
nation to  serve  God,  and  to  be  more  watchful  over 
himself  He  soon  finds  fresh  occasion  for  humiliation. 
^^  January  4,  1810.  Find  myself  guilty  of  a  breach  of 
one  of  my  resolutions.  By  the  grace  of  God  I  will  en- 
deavor to  watch  over  myself  in  this  particular.  O 
most  holy  God  !  be  pleased  to  give  me  such  a  sense  of 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  81 

the  vileness  of  my  heart,  as  shall  lead  me  to  a  right 
view  of  my  own  character,  as  shall  make  me  humble." 

At  Fairfield,  he  enjoyed  the  ministry  and  friendship 
of  the  Rev.  Heman  Humphrey,  then  recently  settled  ; 
and  M^w  president  of  Amherst  College.  Under  his 
ministry  he  made  very  sensible  advances  in  knowledge 
and  grace.  But  the  preaching  which  above  all  others 
he  prized,  was  that  of  the  venerable  President  Dwight, 
his  spiritual  father.  This  attachment  continued  through 
life.  Dr.  Dwight  was  his  model  for  almost  every  thing 
pertaining  to  the  man,  the  scholar,  the  Christian,  the 
preacher.  No  other  so  much  contributed  to  the  forma- 
tion and  development  of  his  Christian  and  ministerial 
character.  It  was  ordinarily  enough  for  him  to  know, 
in  relation  to  a  particular  course,  that  Dr.  Dwight  prac- 
tised or  pursued  it.  This  settled  in  many  cases  every 
doubt.  Though  it  is  not  commonly  safe  for  a  youth  to 
set  up  any  one  of  his  brethren  or  fathers  as  his  model, 
yet  the  pupil  of  the  far-renowned  President  of  Yale 
College  might  be  pardoned  for  even  a  very  close  imi- 
tation of  such  a  model.  Well  was  it  for  the  youthful 
Baldwin  that  his  character  was  formed  under  such 
auspices. 

A  sermon  which  he  heard  about  this  time  from  Pres. 
Dwight  left  upon  him  a  deep  impression.  "  Heard," 
he  says,  Lord^s  day,  January  Mth,  "  a  discourse  to-day 
from  Dr.  Dwight,  on  the  evidences  of  true  vital  godli- 
ness reigning  in  the  hearts  of  men.  My  feelings  have 
been  various.  Sometimes  I  am  ready  to  think  myself 
a  hypocrite.  At  other  times  I  think  that  I  love  God, 
I  think  that  I  trust  a  Savior.  My  sins  are  many — they 
are  aggravated ;  but,  blessed  be  God  !  there  is  a  Me- 
diator.    An  all-sufficient  atonement  has  been  made. 

4* 


82  MEMOIR   OF 

Then  let  me  trust.  Though  my  '  sins  be  as  scarlet  they 
shall  be  as  white  as  snow.'  Will  the  Lord  be  pleased 
to  receive  me  graciously  and  love  me  freely  ?" 

The  following  letter  to  his  brother,  at  Durham,  ex- 
hibits at  once  his  anxiety  for  the  salvation  of  Mf  kin- 
dred, and  his  faithfulness  to  their  souls.  Under  date  of 
January  24/A,  1810,  he  thus  wnies : 

"  There  has  been  no  material  alteration  in  my  circum- 
stances since  my  last  letter.  I  am  well — my  school 
goes  on— my  studies  progress.  President  Dwight  was 
here  a  few  days  since,  and  gave  me  permission  to  be 
out  of  college  till  the  May  vacation.     I  have  lately 

received  a  letter  from  Mr.  C.  B 11,  and  W y. 

Both  are  well.  Father's  letter  has  come  to  hand,  and 
brought  good  news.  Yes,  religion  is  the  one  thing 
needful ;  all  besides  is  vanity — utterly  vanity.  My 
brother !  I  know  not  what  to  write  to  you,  or  to  sister 
P.  I  know  not  how^  this  will  find  you.  One  thing, 
however,  I  trust  will  not  be  the  case  ;  it  will  not  find 
you  sleeping ;  I  shall  take  it  for  granted  that  you  are 
inquiring  the  way  to  Zion.  How  great,  then,  must  be 
your  views,  how  enlarged  your  pursuit !  Who  can  say 
what  it  is  to  be  the  sons  of  God,  or  speak  the  worth  of 
an  immortal  crown  ?  Let  fools  scoff,  let  them  laugh 
away  their  souls ;  this  sacred  truth  still  remains — the 
man  is  wise  w^io  prefers  heaven  to  earth.  '  What 
shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he  gain  the  whole  world  and 
lose  his  own  soul  V 

Consider  this  subject  a  moment.  Suppose  you  had 
the  whole  world,  every  earthly  pleasure,  at  your  com- 
mand. Suppose  your  life  lengthened  to  the  age  of 
Methusaleh.  The  time  of  probation  is  at  last  finished, 
the  nine  hundred  years  are  gone,  and  with  them  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  83 

world.  What  are  you  the  better  for  your  former  plea- 
sures? You  look  back — all  is  a  dream;  forward — a 
dread  eternity  opens  its  jaws  to  receive  you, — an  eter- 
nity void  of  dreams,  destitute  of  hope.  Ah  !  who  can 
tell  what  it  is  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  an  angry  God  ? 
Who  can  abide  his  wrath  1  Nothing  can  be  more 
strange  or  inconsistent  than  the  general  conduct  of 
mankind.  We  all  come  into  this  world  to  prepare  for 
a  better.  Our  confinement  here  is  short,  it  is  but  for 
a  day.  If  we  accept  a  Savior,  all  will  be  well  with 
us ;  if  not,  we  lose  our  all  and  ourselves  besides.  Yet 
comparatively  few  think  of  this.  Man  toils  all  the  day 
long  for  naught,  and  feeds  on  husks,  till  God  snatches 
him  as  a  brand  from  the  burning,  or  he  perishes  forever. 
More ; — the  farmer  lays  up  his  stores  for  winter,  fodder 
for  his  cattle  and  food  for  his  family ;  the  merchant 
purchases  his  goods ;  the  mechanic  his  tools  and  stock. 
All  agree  that  such  things  are  the  result  of  policy.  A 
contrary  conduct  in  either  of  these  characters  would  be 
termed  folly  in  the  extreme.  Yet  the  same  persons, 
dependent  on  an  hour,  and  hovering  over  their  graves, 
trifle  with  the  voice  of  wisdom.  What  folly !  what 
madness !  Surely  '  madness  is  in  the  hearts  of  men 
while  they  live,  and  after  that  they  go  to  the  dead.' 

Such,  my  dear  brother  !  I  hope,  will  not  be  your 
choice  ;  it  will  sting  at  last.  If  you  are  not  a  Chris- 
tian, be  one.  Remember,  your  all  depends  on  your 
being  a  child  of  God.  If  you  perish,  perish  at  the 
throne  of  grace.  There  is  the  place  for  sinners.  There, 
or  nowhere.  Christ  is  a  willing  Savior,  but  he  will 
save  none  by  the  halves.  So  long  as  you  retain  one 
mite  of  self-righteousness,  your  prayers  will  be  rejected. 
*  They  that  be  whole  need  not  a  physician,  but  they 


84  MEMOIR   OF 

that  are  sick.'  Christ  came  to  save  sinners  only.  The 
man  who  is  clean  in  his  own  eyes,  has  no  part  in 
Christ,  none  in  heaven.  Remember,  that  your  oppor- 
tunities for  attending  to  religion  are,  perhaps,  now  as 
great  as  they  ever  will  be.  Every  day  adds  to  your 
guilt.  If  you  now  refuse  a  Savior,  who  can  tell  but 
it  may  be,  to  you,  a  fatal  refusal.  God  will  not  always 
call.  The  gospel-invitations  have  an  end.  Oh!  be 
dihgent — escape  for  your  life,  lest  you  be  consumed. 
Leave  earth ; — a  httle  while,  and  it  will  dance  over 
your  grave." 

The  language  that  follows  may  seem  strange  to  one 
who  has  never  been  renewed  by  the  grace  of  God,  but 
the  experienced  Christian  will  find  it  an  accurate  de- 
scription of  what  have  often  been  his  own  feelings  : 

"  Saturday  night,  Feb.  2(^.— Did  my  eternal  salva- 
tion depend  on  myself  where  could  I  find  my  hope  ? 
Blessed  be  God  !  it  is  not  so.  But  ah  !  what  am  I  ? 
Oh  that  I  could  find  words  to  express  my  vileness !  they 
should  be  a  monument  to  remind  me  of  my  true  cha- 
racter. But  words — comprehension  itself — fail.  There 
is  no  length,  no  depth,  no  width.  I  am  myself  a  world 
of  sin,  an  infinite  in  pollution,  enough  to  sink  a  world, 
to  pollute  an  ocean.  O  thou  blessed  Jesus  !  save  or  I 
perish." 

To  wage  a  successful  conflict  against  prevailing  sin, 
the  believer  must  do  something  more  than  watch,  pray 
and  strive  against  sin  in  the  abstract.  He  must  learn 
to  what  sins  he  is  peculiarly  liable — what  are  his  easily- 
besetting  sins ;  and  then  he  must  enter  into  single  com- 
bat with  these,  and  struggle  until,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
they  are  subdued.    An  example  of  this  nature  follows  : 

"  Fehmary  4fh. — Resolved  that,  by  the  assistance  of 


REV.    BR.    BALDWIN.  85 

God,  I  will  watch  and  pray  against  the  following  sins, 
to  w^hich  I  am  prone : — hastiness  of  speech  and  light- 
ness of  demeanor.  Oh  that  God  would  enable  me  to 
perform  this  resolution  !  Many  are  my  sins,  many  my 
backslidings.  I  am  a  polluted  wretch.  But,  blessed 
be  God  !  there  is  a  Savior." 

He  appears  to  have  been  deeply  affected,  too,  with  a 
sense  of  his  great  ingratitude  to  God.  "  '  A  wounded 
spirit  who  can  bear  V  I  have  hved  twenty  years  under 
the  smiles  of  a  beneficent  Providence.  Less  than  two 
of  these  have  been  professedly  devoted  to  God.  Of 
these  two,  the  most  of  the  time  has  been  wasted  and 
much  abused." 

Though  often,  as  w^e  have  seen, '  cast  down,'  he  can- 
not be  persuaded  to  give  up  his  hope ;  he  cannot  but 
be  sensible  of  the  power  and  prevalence  of  divine  grace. 
"  It  does  appear  to  me,"  he  remarks,  Feb.  10th,  "  that 
I  love  Christ  and  his  cause,  that  holiness  is  pleasant  to 
me,  that  the  law  of  God  is  such  as  I  would  have  it  to 
be.  Still  my  works,  my  thoughts  present  me  with 
much  contrary  evidence.  Forgive,  O  my  God !  and 
lead  me  into  light  which  may  dispel  my  doubts." 

He  often  notes  down  the  result  of  his  w^eekly  self- 
investigation  thus : — "  Find  myself  guilty  of  a  violation 
of  the  first  article  of  my  resolves."  Again  ; — "  Find 
myself  guilty  of  being  angry  for  a  trifle ;  for  which  I 
ask  the  forgiveness  of  God."  It  was  by  this  practice  of 
carefully  noting  his  very  least  failings,  and  then  striving 
against  them,  that  he  attained  to  that  remarkable 
equanimity  for  which  in  after-life  he  was  so  distinguish- 
ed. '  For  behold  this  self-same  thing,  that  ye  sorrowed 
after  a  godly  sort,  what  carefulness  it  wrought  in  you ! 
yea,  what  clearing  of  yourselves !' 


86  MEMOIR    OF 

In  common  with  the  greater  part  of  Connecticut- 
Christians  at  that  day,  he  regarded  the  evening  of  the 
last  day  of  the  week  as  a  part  of  the  Sabbath.  He  was 
exceedingly  scrupulous,  therefore,  not  to  suffer  the  world 
to  intrude  upon  him  on  that  day,  after  the  going  down 
of  the  sun.  If  by  any  means  he  was  placed  in  circum- 
stances, beyond  his  control,  obliging  him  to  mingle 
somewhat  in  company  after  that  hour,  it  was  to  him  a 
source  of  great  distress.  On  one  occasion,  Feb.  17th, 
having  accepted  an  invitation  to  tea,  w^ith  the  express 
stipulation  that  he  should  be  released  before  sunset,  and 
having  been  disappointed  in  this  respect,  we  hear  him 
presently  mourning  over  the  occurrence  thus  :— "  Oh  ! 
this  is  an  evil  w^orld.  God  grant  that  I  may  not  again 
fall  into  this  sin.  O  thou  Father  of  mercies !  pardon 
the  sin  of  thy  servant,  I  beseech  thee.  Oh  !  may  it  be 
no  reproach  to  thy  cause !  Whatever  becomes  of  me 
may  thy  glory  be  promoted." 

At  one  time,  when  oppressed  with  drowsiness  in  the 
house  of  God,  he  exclaims  in  view  of  it,  "  Oh  that  my 
eyes  were  a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I  could  weep  day  and 
night  for  my  transgressions !  How  have  I  crucified  my 
Savior,  and  put  him  to  an  open  shame  !  How  have  I 
pierced  myself  through  with  many  sorrows !" 

The  meekness  with  which  he  received  reproof  is  ex- 
pressed in  the  following  extract.  "  If  I  know  my  own 
heart,  those,  who  tell  me  my  faults,  are  dear  to  me. 
Blessed  be  God  for  such  ministers  as  warn  their  peo- 
ple. Sweet  is  the  voice  of  him  that  bringeth  good 
tidings.     How  I  love  the  messenger  of  truth  !" 

When  about  to  approach  the  Lord's  table,  he  finds 
no  relief  from  the  reflection  of  his  unworthiness  but  by 
resorting  to  his  Redeemer.     "  I  find,"  he  says,  "  on  ex- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  87 

amination  that  my  life  heretofore  gives  me  no  right  to 
approach  the  table  of  the  Lord.  I  have  broken  my 
vows.  But  Christ  is  merciful.  Perhaps  I  shall  find 
'  him  whom  my  soul  loveth.'  Methinks  I  love  the 
Savior,  though  my  transgressions  are  many." 

A  review  of  his  diary  draws  from  him  the  exclama- 
tion— "  It  is  a  wonder  that  I  am  not  in  hell !" 

As  the  spring  advances  his  spirits  sink.  "  I  am  much 
cast  down  to-day,"  he  says.  Lord's  day,  April  22d, 
"  with  a  sense  of  the  hardness  of  my  heart.  My  vows 
— where  are  they  ?  What  are  my  duties  ?  How 
numerous  my  sins  !  God  has  spared  me  to  this  time. 
I  am  surrounded  with  mercies.  But  how  slow  to  be- 
lieve !  how  lukewarm  !  how  swift  to  iniquity  !" 

In  his  experience  may  be  seen  how  indispensable  to 
the  Christian's  peace  is  the  sensible  presence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Thus  he  remarks,  "  Lord^s  day,  April 
29lh, — My  soul  is  in  darkness.  Where  is  my  beloved 
gone  ?  I  look  on  my  right  hand  and  on  my  left  '  but 
I  perceive  him  not.'  I  have  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  he  is  gone.  Oh  !  who  can  tell  my  sorrow  ?  Sin  ! — 
thou  fiend  ! — begone  !  Let  me  alone,  O  my  enemy  ! 
Have  mercy,  O  my  God  !  Save,  or  I  perish.  O  my 
soul !  be  still.  '  My  Redeemer  liveth,'  and  I  shall  yet 
see  him.  '  Come,  Holy  Spirit,  Heavenly  Dove  !'  come, 
cleanse  my  soul,  and  make  me  a  meet  temple  for  thine 
indwelling." 

His  earnest  desire  to  be  honest  with  himself,  to  know 
his  true  character,  and  to  subject  himself  to  the  crucible 
of  God's  truth,  appears  in  the  following  series  of  ques- 
tions w^hich  he  proposed  to  himself  on  "  Lord's  day  morn- 
ing. May  bth.^^  Let  the  reader  pause  at  each  inquiry, 
and  obtain  an  answer  from  his  own  soul. 


88  MEMOIR    OF 

"  EXAMINATION. 

"  1.  Do  I  love  the  brethren  ?  and  for  what  do  I  love 
them? 

"  2.  Am  I  ever  pleased  with  sin  in  others,  especial- 
ly when  it  seems  to  justify  like  sins  in  myself? 

"  3.  Am  I  pleased  to  find  that  many  who  are  termed 
Christians  come  short  of  me  in  some  particulars  ? 

"  4.  Do  I  desire  rather  to  learn  from  the  word  of  God, 
than  to  make  it  subserve  my  particular  notions  ? 

*'  5.  Do  disgraceful  sins  wound  most  my  pride  or  ray 
conscience  ?  Do  I  prefer  the  secret  testimony  of  God 
to  the  mistaken  applauses  of  the  best  of  men  ? 

"  6.  Would  I  prefer  a  heaven  of  complete  holiness 
and  eternal  praising  of  God  to  an  eternity  of  the  most 
refined  and  exquisite  sinful  pleasures  ? 

"  7.  When  burdened  with  sin,  do  I  lament  ray  pollu- 
tion or  ray  danger  ? 

"  8.  Which  gives  me  the  most  satisfaction  and  joy ; — 
a  sense  of  my  own  comparative  excellence,  or  the  all- 
sufficiency  of  a  Savior  ? 

"  9.  Can  I  conceive  of  any  way  of  salvation  more 
pleasing  to  me,  than  the  way  of  salvation  in  and  through 
Jesus  Christ  ? 

"  10.  Am  I  ever  satisfied  with  my  growth  in  grace  ? 
Can  I  perceive  from  one  time  to  another  that  I  grow  in 
grace ;  that  religion  appears  more  important,  holiness 
more  excellent,  and  sin  more  vile  ?  Am  I  more  inter- 
ested with  serious  conversation,  and  more  shocked  at 
profanity  ?  Am  I  more  prayerful,  less  ashamed  of  be- 
ing thought  singularly  strict  ?  Do  I  feel  an  increasing 
reverence  for  the  Sabbath,  and  the  ordinances  of  God, 
his  purity,  and  his  omniscience  ?     Do  I  think  more  of 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  89 

death,  judgment,  and  eternity  ?  Does  the  scene  on  Cal- 
vary grow  in  ray  mind  ?  Do  I  see  daily  more  of  the 
necessity  of  a  Savior  ?  Do  I  grow  more  watchful 
against  temptation  and  backslidings  ?  Do  I  love  more  ? 
Am  I  more  shocked  than  formerly  at  the  attacks  of 
wicked  men  on  the  house  of  God  ?  Is  my  mind  more 
universally  spiritual  1 

"  11.  Were  it  in  my  power,  would  I  amend  the  law 
of  God  ?  Do  I  regard  it  as  too  strict  in  any  of  its  re- 
quirements ? 

"  12.  Do  I  love  those  most  who  flatter  my  pride,  or 
those  who  reprove  my  backslidings  ?  Which  are  my 
companions — my  intimates  ? 

"  13.  Is  there  any  sinner  whose  conversion  would  not 
be  my  joy  1  Can  I  wish  an  enemy  to  be  deprived  of 
heaven  1 

"  14.  Do  I  forgive  my  enemies  before  God,  and  sin- 
cerely pray  for  their  w^elfare  ? 

"  15.  Can  I  call  to  mind  any  one  of  my  sins  of  which 
I  do  not  repent  ?  Do  I  repent  of  my  follies  wath  regret  ? 
Am  I  pleased  with  no  smart  circumstance  which  attends 
them,  and  therefore  secretly  rejoice  in  their  existence  ? 

"  16.  Am  I  ever  pleased  with  an  excuse  for  neglect- 
ing duty  ? 

"  17.  Am  I  not  pleased  with  particular  Scripture- doc- 
trines, because  they  are  the  tenets  of  a  certain  set  of  men 
or  sectaries  ? 

"  18.  Am  I  willing  that  God  should  dispose  of  my 
temporal  interests — to  go  where  he  may  call,  and  to  be 
spent  in  his  service  ? 

"  19.  Do  I  feel  for  a  lost  world,  anticipate  the  uni- 
versal kingdom  of  Christ,  pray  for  its  accomplishment, 


90  MEMOIR   OF 

arid  contribute  my  mite  for  the  enlightening  of  the 
heathen  1 

"  20.  Finally,  do  I  account  the  world  and  the  glories 
of  it,  its  honors,  its  pleasures,  its  smiles,  and  its  magni- 
ficence as  nothing  compared  with  '  the  excellency  of 
the  knowledge'  of  the  Lord,  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and 
the  reward  which  awaits  his  children  ?" 

To  be  able  habitually  to  answer  these  inquiries  aright, 
and  in  truth,  is  to  have  a  '  good  hope  through  grace,' 
and  '  everlasting  consolation'  through  the  promises. 

Not  content  with  these  inquiries,  which  relate  more 
to  the  general  habit  of  the  mind,  he  prepares  a 

"Form  of  Examination  for  Saturday  Evening. 

"  1.  What  have  I  done  this  week  with  a  view  to  the 
glory  of  God  ? 

"  2.  What  opportunities  of  doing  good  have  I  lost  ? 

"  3.  What  duty  have  I  omitted  ? 

"  4.  What  have  been  my  prayers  ? 

"  5.  What  has  been  my  frame  of  mind  compared 
with  what  it  has  been  heretofore,  and  what  it  should  be 
according  to  the  unerring  word  of  God  ? 

"  6.  What  new  temptation  has  assaulted  me  ?  how^ 
did  I  resist  it  ?  hov/  shall  I  resist  it  in  future  ? 

"  7.  Have  I  offended  any  one  unjustly  ? 

"  8.  Have  I  committed  any  gross  sin  ?  Have  I  re- 
sisted sin  ? 

"  9.  Have  I  been  angry  unrighteously  ? 

"  10.  What  evidence  have  I  found  this  week  of  my 
being  a  Christian  ?     What  to  the  contrary  ? 

"11.  In  what  have  consisted  the  peculiar  blessings 
of  God  towards  me  ?     Have  I  been  thankful  for  them  ? 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  91 

"  12.  Which  of  my  sins,  the  preceding  week,  re- 
mains unrepented  of?" 

Such  was  the  manner  in  which  he  endeavored  to  pre- 
pare for  an  approach  to  the  table  of  the  Lord.  It  was 
with  this  view  that  he  brought  himself  to  the  test  of 
these  searching  inquiries,  that  he  might  wash  his  hands 
in  innocency  and  so  compass  the  altar  of  God.  The 
result,  however,  does  not  seem  to  have  answered  his  ex- 
pectations. Wandering  thoughts  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  ordinance  took  away  his  peace.  He  may 
have  relied,  as  too  many  do,  upon  the  exactness  with 
which  he  had  endeavored  to  prepare  himself,  and  have 
calculated  too  fondly  that  great  comfort  would  flow 
therefrom  as  a  matter  of  course.  So  difficult  is  it  for 
even  the  renewed  soul  to  be  brought  to  rely  simply  and 
alone  on  the  grace  of  God.  We  find  him  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day  lamenting  himself  thus  : 

"  I  have  once  more  approached  the  table  of  the  Lord. 
My  thoughts  were  wandering  and  vain.  I  came  lean 
from  this  blessed  ordinance,  and  well  I  might;  for  I 
sinned  in  the  midst  of  it.  Oh  the  long-suffering  and 
tender  mercies  of  Jehovah !  To  this  it  is  owing  that  I 
am  not  consumed — that  I  enjoy  the  day  and  the  means 
of  grace.  Blessed  God !  take  away  this  evil  heart ; 
renew  me  by  thy  Spirit,  and  fit  me  for  thy  kingdom. 
May  I  learn  from  thy  mercies  and  grow  wiser  by  thy 
judgments.     Save,  Lord  !  or  I  perish  !" 

A  few  days  after,  he  visited  his  paternal  home  in 
Durham,  where  God  had  recently  revived  his  work 
with  power.  To  a  beloved  cousin,  with  whom  he  had 
been  intimate  from  childhood,  then  living  in  the  town 
of  Paris,  Oneida  county,  New-York,  he  wrote  the  fol- 


92  MEMOIR    OF 

lowing  appropriate  and  faithful  letter,  while  at  Dur- 
ham : 

"  I  arrived  here,  this  week,  from  Connecticut,  and 
have  witnessed  some  of  the  effects  of  the  awakening. 
Numbers  appear  to  be  hopefully  converted.  The  work 
has  been  great,  and  glorious.  What  think  you  of  it, 
my  cousin?  Is  there  any  beauty,  excellency,  and 
glory  in  this  work  1  Does  your  heart  go  forth  to  meet 
this  revival  ?  I  am  informed  that  you  entertain  a  hope 
of  your  conversion  to  God.  If  such  be  your  condition, 
and  you  entertain  a  genuine  hope,  you  will,  I  think, 
be  sensible  of  a  change  in  your  feelings  ;  your  views  of 
God's  character  will  be  altered  ;  you  will  exalt  him  on 
the  throne;  you  will  be  willing  that  he  should  reign, 
direct  and  dispose  of  all  things  in  his  own  way  and 
time.  '  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth !  because  thou  hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise 
and  prudent,  and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes ;  even 
so.  Father !  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight,'  was  the 
language  of  our  divine  Redeemer.  Here  was  submis- 
sion, such  as  you  and  /  must  have,  or  perish. 

"  You  will  also  rejoice  in  his  presence  with  you. 
*  Lo  !  I  am  with  you  always,'  was  a  gracious  promise. 
If  we  are  Christians,  we  shall  want  no  retreat  from  the 
eye  of  Jehovah.  Christians  rejoice  in  the  belief  of  a 
future  judgment.  The  judgment-day  will  exalt  their 
Savior ;  and  his  glory  is  dear  to  them ;  they  are  wil- 
ling to  have  all  their  sins  exposed  to  the  assembled 
universe,  to  be  accounted  righteous  through  his  merits 
alone.  The  Christian  will  part  with  every  thing  for 
Christ.  He  must  be  loved  more  than  father  or  mother, 
wife  or  children.     My  cousin !  if  you  wish  to  retain 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  93 

one  sin,  doubt  your  hope :  nay,  it  is  good  for  nothing 
at  all. 

"  The  Christian  also,  I  apprehend,  beholds  a  fulness 
in  Christ.  He  is  able  and  mighty  to  save.  None  can 
pluck  his  children  out  of  his  hands.  He  was  compas- 
sionate, meek  and  patient  while  on  earth ;  he  reviled 
not  again.     In  these  things  the  Christian  imitates  him. 

"  The  Christian,  too,  thinks  lowly  of  himself.  Such 
were  the  feelings  of  Job  when  he  said,  *  I  abhor  my- 
self.' Good  men  love  the  Sabbath.  The  language  of  their 
heart  is — Thy  Sabbaths  are  my  delight,  *  I  had  rather 
be  a  door-keeper  in  the  house  of  my  God,  than  to  dwell 
in  the  tents  of  wickedness.'  Finally,  Christians  are 
willing  to  devote  themselves  to  God,  to  take  up  the 
cross  and  follow  Christ. 

"  These,  I  think,  are  a  few  of  the  evidences  attend- 
ant on  Christianity,  and  of  these  I  have  written  under 
the  persuasion  that  you  have  a  hope  towards  God,  a 
belief  of  your  good  estate.  If  such  is  your  situation, 
Oh  !  be  humble,  be  prayerful ;  examine  yourself  wheth- 
er you  be  in  the  faith.  But  if  such  is  not  your  situa- 
tion, if  your  convictions  are  gone  and  you  think  no 
more  of  religion,  hear  the  warning  of  one  who  loves 
you,  and  would  do  you  good : 

"  God  will  not  always  wait  on  delaying  sinners. 
Life  is  uncertain.  The  judgment  hastens.  Every  sin 
must  soon  be  revealed,  and  an  awful  eternity  be  the 
portion  of  impenitent  sinners.  Soon  you  will  be  beyond 
the  calls  of  mercy.  Oh  !  be  wise  to-day — to-morrow 
may  be  too  late — to-morrow  you  may  be  called  to  meet 
your  Judge,  and  receive  the  reward  due  to  you  for  sin. 
Oh !  be  entreated  to  escape  for  your  life  while  there  is 
hope." 


94  MEMOIR    OF 

In  June  he  returned  again  to  college,  having  been 
absent  about  eighteen  months.  In  reviewing  this  period, 
a  few  months  afterwards,  he  remarks — "  During  all 
this  time  I  enjoyed  good  health,  obtained  the  confidence 
of  those  who  employed  me,  and  was  liberally  rewarded 
for  my  services.  God  enabled  me,  in  many  instances, 
to  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  his  gospel.  My  sins  were 
many  and  aggravated,  but  still  mercy  spared  me. 
Glory  be  to  God  !  I  am  yet  a  probationer  for  eternity. 

"  On  my  return  to  college.  Providence  made  provi- 
sion  for  my  support  in  a  remarkable  manner.     The 

Messrs.  A ,  whom  I  had  instructed  at  Litchfield,  on 

entering  college  were  put  under  my  care  ;  for  which  I 
am  receiving  the  price  of  board  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  besides.  This  providence,  no  doubt,  was 
meant  as  an  earthly  blessing  to  my  parents ;  at  least,  it 
appears  so  to  me.  My  father  often  told  me,  that  he 
trusted  Providence;  and  Providence  has  answered  it 
with  reward.  As  for  myself  I  deserve  nothing  of  these 
things,  and  while  I  live  it  shall  be  my  endeavor  to  hum- 
ble myself  for  all  my  transgressions.  I  will  call  to 
mind  the  mercies  of  God  tow^ards  me,  and  be  ashamed 
for  my  follies.  I  will  not  fail,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to 
trust  him  to  save  me  in  life  and  death,  and  at  last  to 
receive  me  into  his  kingdom." 

Restored  once  more  to  the  halls  of  learning,  he  gave 
himself  with  increased  energy  to  the  pursuits  of  science. 
Eager  to  excel  in  all  that  he  undertook,  his  desire  for 
knowledge  became  a  snare  to  him.  Presently  he  finds 
himself  engrossed  with  his  studies,  and  when  he  turns 
his  eye  within,  his  joys  are  gone.  "  How  often,"  he 
cries,  "  are  my  sins  repeated !     What  do  I  do  besides 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  95 

sin  ?     Still  I  hope  on.     But  where  is  ray  fruit  1  where 
the  signs  of  hoHness,  of  repentance,  of  faith  7 

There  was  a  time,  when  penitence, 
With  trust  in  Jesus'  blood,  rais'd  high  my  thoughts, 
And  sunk  them  too — sunk  self,  but  rais'd  instead 
My  nobler  part,  and  taught  me  through  these  toils 
Of  life  to  look  to  heaven.     Where  now  that  trust  ? 
Why  fled  my  joys  ?     Because  my  trust  hath  fled." 

A  short  time  after  we  hear  him  complaining  of  his 
pride  and  envy — of  consequent  dejection  of  spirit,  and 
of  backwardness  to  repent.  "  Ah  !  who,"  he  cries, "  can 
tell  the  miseries  of  a  soul  afar  from  God  1 — I  am  cer- 
tainly the  vilest  of  the  vile.  Perhaps  I  have  never  re- 
pented ;  perhaps  I  am  yet '  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and 
in  the  bond  of  iniquity.'  " 

His  desire  '  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men'  is  mani- 
fested in  the  following  extract : — "  The  great  apostle 
to  the  Gentiles  was  particularly  careful  not  to  offend  his 
weak  brethren.  To  avoid  this  he  would  eat  no  meat  as 
long  as  he  lived,  though  in  itself  a  perfectly  innocent 
thing.  Was  this  commendable  ?  Certainly,  altogether 
so.  What  is  the  enjoyment  of  an  earthly  luxury  to  the 
worth  of  the  soul  ?  what  to  the  confidence  and  prayers 
of  the  weakest  Christian?  Our  food  is  designed  to 
strengthen  our  bodies  to  prepare  us  for  exertion  in  the 
cause  of  Christ;  not  to  pamper  a  wanton  appetite. 
The  flesh  must  be  crucified.  If  my  brother  is  offended 
by  my  means,  I  will  endeavor,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to 
reconcile  him,  though  it  should  be  attended  with  de- 
nials. Are  we  heirs  of  heaven  ?  and  shall  we  not  live 
in  peace  on  earth  1  Are  we  a  spectacle  to  angels  ?  and 
shall  we  contend  like  others  ?     Has  our  Lord  com- 


96  MEMOIR   OF  ^ 

manded  us  to  love  one  another,  and  shall  we  not 
obey  ?" 

Nothing  of  special  interest  occurred  in  his  history 
during  the  remainder  of  the  year.  The  next  record  of 
his  feelings  bears  date  January  13th,  1811,  and  is  as 
follows : — "  I  have  now,  for  a  long  time,  neglected  this 
book,  and  not  a  little  to  my  hurt.  Alas,  I  may  say,  for 
my  backwardness  of  heart  to  perform  the  command- 
ments of  God !  I  sin  continually  and  grossly.  God  is 
not  in  all  my  thoughts.  Can  such  a  sinner  be  forgiven  ? 
Yes — I  know  it;  God  can  forgive  through  the  merits 
of  the  Redeemer.  Christ  can  save  perishing  souls. 
Blessed  Jesus !  look  in  compassion  upon  me ;  I  come 
and  bow  myself  at  thy  footstool.  Oh !  w'ilt  thou  pity, 
— w^ilt  thou  save  a  perishing  sinner  ?  Such  indeed  I 
am ;  and  as  such  I  come  before  thee.  May  I  expe- 
rience thy  loving-kindness,  and  be  prepared  for  thy 
glory." 

A  season  of  backsliding  had  indeed  come  over  him. 
The  temptations  of  college-life  he  found  to  be  very 
different  from  those  of  an  obscure  country  residence. 
For  a  time  he  gives  way  in  part.  But  he  cannot  yield 
long.  He  has  enjoyed  too  much  in  the  service  of  his 
Savior  to  content  himself,  for  more  than  a  short  season, 
in  even  the  ennobling  pursuits  of  science.  Knowledge 
without  grace  can  never  satisfy  the  soul.  Thus  he 
testifies  of  himself: 

"  Lo7'd''s  day,  January  20th,  1811. — Examination  of 
myself  proves  to  me  that  I  have  lived,  for  some  time 
past,  at  a  great  distance  from  God — that  I  have  built 
my  hopes  too  much  on  past  experience.  Whether  I 
know  any  thing  of  true  religion  admits  of  a  doubt ;  and, 
Oh!  how  dreadful  is  a  doubt  on  this  subject!     My 


REV.    UK.    BALDWIN.  97 

soul !  art  thou  still  *  in  the  gall  of  bitterness  and  in  the 
bond  of  iniquity  V  Has  my  Redeemer  no  place  in  this 
frozen  heart  ?  Away,  lusts  and  appetites !  away,  every 
thing  that  may  separate  between  God  and  my  soul." 

He  returns  again  to  duty — humbles  himself  before 
God — endeavors  to  excite  within  himself  shame  for  his 
wanderings,  gratitude  for  God's  mercies,  and  a  firm 
purpose  to  live  henceforth  to  God.  Hope  once  more 
returns,  and  he  begins  to  feel  the  joys  of  '  a  soul  re- 
newed, and  sins  forgiven.' 

"  February  17th. — Made  some  inquiry  into  my  spirit- 
ual state.  My  attainments  in  religion  are  certainly 
small ;  but  it  does  appear  to  me  that  I  love  Christ — 
that  I  am  pleased  with  the  character  of  God,  and  that 
I  would  desire  to  be  saved  in  no  other  way  than  in  and 
through  the  merits  of  the  Divine  Redeemer." 

As  "  the  clouds  return  after  rain,"  so  was  it  with  his 
doubts  and  fears.  March  3d,  he  says, — "  The  result  of 
my  examination  to-day  and  last  night  is — that  I  am  in 
a  backsliding  state,  if  a  Christian — that  my  first  duty  is 
repentance."  For  many  weeks  the  result  of  every  ex- 
amination is  much  the  same.  "  Alas !  what  is  my  life 
but  sin  1 — It  becomes  me  to  lament  my  enormous  sins 
before  God. — Much  I  fear  that  I  am  a  hypocrite. — Find 
my  heart  much  estranged  from  God,  and  sad  evidence 
that  I  know  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

An  interval  of  hope  is  now  enjoyed.  "  ^pril  28th. 
— Feel  comfortable  hopes  of  my  being  a  child  of  God." 
"  May  5th. — It  does  appear  to  me  that  I  love  the  chil- 
dren of  God."  These  hopes,  however,  prove  transient, 
and  again  he  is  almost  in  despair.  He  can  "  come  to 
no  determination."  "  June  23d. — I  examine  myself, 
but  dare  not  draw  a  conclusion  as  to  my  real  state  fur- 

6 


98  MEMOIR    OF 

ther  than  that  I  am  guilt}*  of  much  and  continual  sin. 
It  does  seem  to  me  that  I  love  Christ  and  his  cause,  but 
alas  !  my  practice,  my  daily  practice,  seems  to  say  that 
I  am  deceived." 

In  this  state  of  vacillation,  now  hoping,  and  now 
despairing,  he  seems  to  have  continued  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year.  ^Yhen  he  dared  to  hope,  it  was 
with  trembling  only.  Often  he  has  nothing  to  speak  of 
but  his  stupidity,  his  coldness,  his  hardness  of  heart,  his 
multiplied  sins,  &c. 

In  October  he  visited  his  native  place,  and  on  his  re- 
turn wrote  to  his  parents,  J\  or.  12/A,  as  follows : 

"  By  the  blessing  of  God,  I  arrived  here  in  safety, 
the  Sabbath  following  my  departure  from  Durham. 
My  passage  from  Catskill  to  New-York  was  a  good 
one.  There  I  was  detained  two  days  with  the  wind 
ahead.  From  New-York  we  sailed  on  Saturday.  The 
whole  passage  was  very  agreeable  to  me,  though  much 
longer  than  I  had  anticipated.  The  two  days  I  staid  in 
New-York  were  spent,  principally,  in  viewing  the  city. 
It  is  a  magnificent  specimen  of  what  the  industry  of 
man  can  execute ;  but  a  city  given  to  wickedness. 
Never  did  I  hear  so  much  profanity  before — every  man 
seemed  to  be  a  profane  swearer,  a  contemner  of  his  God 
and  eternal  life. 

"  On  my  arrival  here,  I  found  that  Colonel  A 

had  sent  for  one  of  his  sons.  Accordingly  I  have  re- 
sumed my  place  in  college.  I  cannot  say  that  I  regret, 
very  much,  this  turn  of  things.  My  opportunities  for 
improvement  are  much  greater — I  hve  more  to  my 
mind ;  at  the  same  time  I  look  upon  it  as  a  dispensa- 
tion of  that  God,  who  will  not  leave  me.  Had  the 
A s  employed  an  instructor  for  this  year,  I  should 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  99 

have  held  my  place;  as  the  case  is,  I  think  it  will  be 
best  for  me  to  continue  here  till  spring,  and  longer  if  I 
succeed  in  getting  a  school  in  town,  for  the  summer.  I 
shall  need  fifty  dollars  by  the  first  of  February,  and 
none  before.  If  Providence  permit,  it  shall  be  my  first 
business,  after  leaving  college,  to  clear  off  those  debts 
which  you  may  contract,  to  keep  me  here,  if  your  pecu- 
niary circumstances  should  render  it  necessary. 

"  Never  was  my  health  better  than  it  now  is.  In- 
deed I  am  indebted  to  God  for  a  long  continuance  of 
good  health — may  it  be  my  endeavor  to  improve  it  to 
his  glory. 

"  I  hope  you  will  write  to  me  soon.— rlnform  me  how 
things  go  in  Durham,  and  whether  the  awakening  con- 
tinues in  Harpersfield.  There  are  no  instances  of 
conversions  in  college,  but  there  appears  to  be  more  zeal 
manifested  by  the  brethren  in  college.  The  desire  that 
God  would  build  up  Zion,  in  this  place,  is  more  fre- 
quently uttered  than  it  has  heretofore  been.  Our  meet- 
ings are  held  frequently,  and  very  well  attended;  that 
is,  in  considerable  numbers." 

During  the  following  winter  he  spent  a  few  weeks 
at  Woodbridge,  abou  six  miles  N.  W.  from  New  Ha- 
ven, in  the  business  of  instruction.  '*  Who  could  have 
foreseen,"  he  says,  Jan.  2bth,  1812,  "  that  I  should  be 
here  at  this  time  1  Every  day  teaches  me  that  it  is  not 
of  myself  to  direct  my  steps ;  especially  should  every 
great  change  in  my  life  teach  me  this  great  truth.  But 
I  ought  to  learn  more  from  this  providence. 

"  I  entered  upon  the  business  of  acquiring  an  educa- 
tion without  reflecting  on  the  cost,  or  even  knowing  it. 
The  same  Providence  which  attends  others  in  such  an 
undertaking   would  have  rendered  all  my  calculations 


100  MEMOIR    OF 

abortive,  or  have  left  me  at  this  time  poor,  and  depend- 
ent on  the  smiles  of  griping  creditors.  Such  is  not  my 
situation.  I  am  neithsr  rich  nor  poor  ;  but  possessed  of 
a  desirable  competency.  God  gives  me,  day  by  day, 
my  daily  bread,  and  also  clothes  me  from  his  bounty. 
Nor  is  this  all — not  even  the  greatest  of  my  blessings. 
I  am  also  furnished  with  every  spiritual  privilege  neces- 
sary to  my  salvation.  God  has  not  said  to  me — '  Offer 
no  more  petitions !'  Though  he  discerns  all  my  hypo- 
crisy and  unfaithfulness,  he  still  permits  me  to  say — 
'  Father !  I  have  sinned  against  heaven  and  in  thy 
sight,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son.' 
What  gratitude  do  I  owe  for  all  these  blessings  !  What 
consecration  of  my  powers  to  his  service  is  demanded 
by  favors  like  these.  O  most  Holy  and  Merciful  God  ! 
grant  that  I  may  live  to  thy  glory." 

In  consequence  of  severe  apphcation  to  study  about 
this  time,  his  eyes  became  seriously  affected.  A  dis- 
tressing inflammation  was  follow^ed  by  a  confirmed 
weakness  apparently  seated  on  the  optic  nerve.  This 
affliction,  (though  at  the  time  exceedingly  distressing, 
as  it  seemed  to  cut  off  all  hope  of  his  attaining  that 
eminent  scholarship  after  which  he  so  ardently  panted, 
and  for  the  sake  of  which  he  had  already  pierced  him- 
self through  with  so  many  sorrows,)  became  the  means 
of  greatly  advancing  him  in  spirituality  and  religious 
comfort. 

Having  returned  to  college,  his  mind  appears  to 
have  become  more  fixed  in  relation  to  his  hope.  The 
following  remarks  respecting  the  atonement  may  serve 
to  show  in  what  light  he  regarded  that  vital  doctrine 
of  the  Christian  faith.  They  are  dated  May  16,  1812  : 
"  He,  who  might  persuade  me  that  Christ  is  a  mere 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  101 

man,  would  clash  all  my  hopes  of  everlasting  life  ;  for, 
as  sure  as  there  is  a  holy  God  in  heaven,  my  sins  can- 
not be  washed  away,  except  by  the  blood  of  a  sacrifice 
infinite  in  merit,  and  infinitely  honorable  to  the  law  of 
God.  Such  a  sacrifice  became  sinners  ;  nay,  was  alto- 
gether necessary  to  the  exercise  of  divine  mercy. 
Could  Jehovah  say,  ^  My  law  was  too  strict  to  be  put  in 
execution  against  rebellious  man  V  This  would  be  to 
impeach  his  own  character,  and  to  justify  man  in  his 
rebellion.  Could  he  say,  '  Although  my  law  is  the  best 
possible,  it  shall  not  go  into  execution  against  this  dis- 
obedient creature  V  The  supposition  implies  a  contra- 
diction in  terms.  Laws  are  made  to  be  executed  ;  and 
are  good  only  so  long  as  their  execution  consists  with 
the  everlasting  principles  of  justice.  A  renunciation  of 
justice  in  any  case  is  an  infinite  evil ;  proceeding  from 
God,  it  would  unhinge  the  confidence  of  the  universe, 
and  silence  forever  the  praises  of  heaven.  But  a  refu- 
sal, or  even  a  willing  neglect  to  execute  a  good  law, 
is  a  renunciation  of  justice  ;  it  is  virtually  saying, '  Jus- 
tice may  and  ought,  under  particular  circumstances,  to 
be  sacrificed.'  Grant  this,  and  what  archansel  is  there 
in  heaven  that  would  not  tremble  f(;r  his  safety  ?  Yet 
all  this  is  implied  in  the  belief  of  the  Socinians.  No 
mere  man  is  capable  of  making  an  atonement  for  sin — 
none,  therefore,  has  been  made  ;  for  in  their  opinion 
Christ  is  not  possessed  of  a  divine  nature ;  and  beside 
him  '  there  is  none  other  name  under  heaven  given 
among  men  whereby  we  must  be  saved.'  Three  sup- 
positions only  remain:  1,  either  man  has  not  sinned, 
or,  2,  having  sinned  he  must  perish  ;  or,  3,  he  must  be 
saved  without  an  atonement.  The  first  is  contradicted 
by  every  day's  experience.     The  second  is  denied  by 


102  MEMOIR    OF 

all,  as  well  as  by  the  express  word  of  God.  No  alter- 
native, therefore  remains,  but  salvation  without  an 
atonement;  which,  as  I  have  alread}'  observed,  involves 
consequences  too  absurd  and  dreadful  to  be  admitted 
by  a  rational  man." 

The  greater  part  of  the  spring-vacation,  which  com- 
menced I\Iay  1.3th,  he  passed  at  Berlin  and  Durham, 
Conn.  "  During  this  time,"  he  says  under  date  of 
June  7th,  "  my  health  continued  as  usual ;  my  eyes 
gained  some  strength,  which  they  seem  to  have  lost  the 
first  of  this  week.  The  Lord  chastens  me  ;  Oh  !  may 
I  bear  it  as  a  faithful  son.  Few  can  boast  of  greater 
mercies  than  he  has  bestowed  on  me ;  yet  I  will  not 
boast  of  them.  They  were  undeserved,  and  have  been, 
a  thousand  times,  forfeited  into  the  hands  of  divine  jus- 
tice. Why  then  should  I  complain,  though  I  be  de- 
prived entirely  of  my  sight  ?  Let  me  rather  confess 
my  ingratitude  for  past  favors,  and  humbly  repent  of 
it.  Let  the  breathings  of  my  soul  be — '  though  he  slay 
me,  yet  will  1  trust  in  him.'  " 

On  the  fifteenth  of  July  he  completed  his  college- 
course  of  studies,  and  left  New-Haven  the  next  day  to 
pass  the  senior-vacation  with  the  Rev.  Jason  Allen, 
minister  of  the  south  parish  in  Woodbridge.  "  Not 
having,"  he  remarks,  "  any  other  opportunity  of  labor- 
ing for  my  maintenance,  I  consented  to  take  charge  of 
a  small  school  in  Mr.  Allen's  house.  My  eyes  are  in 
statu  quo.  Sometimes  I  almost  despair  of  ever  being 
able  to  pursue  my  studies  again.  The  affliction  is  not 
joyous,  but,  for  the  present,  grievous.  I  fear  that  I  am 
not  sufficiently  resigned  to  the  will- of  my  heavenly  Fa- 
ther. My  soul  does  not  find  that  pleasure  in  contem- 
plating his  perfections  and  government  which  it  ought. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  103 

I  am  cold  and  almost  lifeless  in  his  service.  The  Lord 
have  mercy  on  me — make  me  feel  the  power  of  his 
grace,  and  constrain  me  to  cry  out, — The  Lord  is  good  ; 
just  and  righteous  are  his  ways." 

"The  peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness"  presently 
appears.  On  the  19th  he  finds  a  sweet  assurance  of 
the  favor  of  God,  and  experiences  a  delightful  acqui- 
escence in  his  will. — "Thought  that  I  experienced," 
he  says,  "  in  the  morning,  something  of  that  acquies- 
cence in  the  dispensations  of  God  which  enables  the 
man  of  piety  to  say — '  thy  will,  O  Lord  !  be  done !' 
How  sweet  is  it  to  realize  that '  the  Lord  God  Omnipo- 
tent reigneth!'  and  that  all  things  in  heaven,  earth  and 
hell,  shall  eventually  promote  his  glory  !  The  king- 
dom of  God  is  the  song  of  the  Christian.  In  its  in- 
crease he  rejoices  with  unspeakable  rapture.  What 
though  Satan  and  his  followers  disturb,  for  a  while,  the 
joys  of  the  humble  believer  in  Jesus  Christ ;  the  time 
is  not  far  distant  when  he  shall  triumph  over  every  foe. 
Yes,  I  have  known  this  of  the  Lord  ; — *  though  I  \valk 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death' — though  I 
be  poor,  afflicted,  and  despised  by  those  around  me,  my 
Father  who  is  in  heaven  will  watch  over  me  for  good — 
'  whom  I  shall  see  for  myself  and  not  another.'  Jesus 
my  Savior  will  come  and  receive  me  to  himself.  Do  I 
say  he  will  come  ? — there  is  no  need  of  his  coming — 
he  is  here — my  portion  and  my  God.  0  Lord !  satisfy 
my  soul  with  the  enjoyment  of  thyself.  May  I  throw 
away  every  thing  which  bars  me  from  the  enjoyment 
of  thyself.  May  I '  run  with  patience  the  race  set  be- 
fore' me — be  willing  to  live  so  long  as  thou  shalt  see 
fit,  and  to  go  when  thou  shalt  call  me." 

This  happy  frame  of  mind  continued  through  the 


104  MEMOIR    OF 

greater  part  of  the  week,  though  with  some  f  emporarj' 
abatement  at  the  close.  On  Saturday  evening,  26th, 
he  says  of  himself, — "  Spent  the  first  part  of  this  week 
in  a  most  sweet  and  composed  frame  of  mind.  It  ap- 
peared to  me  that-  earth  was  of  little  importance  to  one 
who  was  bound  to  an  eternal  world,  except  as  a  place  of 
preparation  ;  as  such  a  place,  it  appeared  to  outgo  all 
that  worldlings  have  ever  attributed  to  it.  For  a  time 
my  soul  rose  above  the  fear  of  death.  I  longed  to  be 
free  from  sin— to  depart  and  be  with  Christ.  Yet  I 
could  say,  *the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done!'  I  chose  to 
be  such,  and  in  such  circumstances,  as  God  would. 
*  To  live'  was  ^  Christ,'  *  to  die'  appeared  to  be  certain 
'  gain.'  " 

Hitherto  he  had  made  no  record  of  his  views  in  re- 
gard to  the  profession  in  w^hich  he  designed  to  pass  his 
days.  When  he  entered  college,  he  could  have  had 
but  little,  if  any,  thought  of  the  ministry  of  the  gospel. 
The  only  end,  which  he  then  proposed  to  himself,  ap- 
pears to  have  been,  the  attainment  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. After  his  hopeful  conversion,  and  up  to  the  time  to 
which  the  narrative  is  now  brought,  he  seems  to  have 
been  so  much  exercised  with  doubts  and  fears  respect- 
ing his  own  salvation,  as  scarcely  to  have  dared  to  look 
forward  with  confidence  to  a  pursuit  demanding  so 
much  holiness  of  heart  and  life.  Yet  it  is  very  appa- 
rent that  he  thought  of  no  other. 

When  his  college-course  was  finished,  and  his  soul 
was  more  bountifully  than  ever  refreshed  with  the 
grace  of  God,  he  gives  utterance  to  the  ardent  desires 
of  his  soul  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  winning  souls  to 
Christ.  On  the  Wi  of  August  he  thus  writes  :  "  Within 
two  weeks  my  eyes  have  recovered  considerably  from 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  105 

their  weakness.  I  am  now  able  to  read  without  pain- 
ing them  much,  though  prudence  seems  to  forbid  it. 
Should  I  ever  recover  my  sight  perfectly,  it  shall,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  be  my  endeavor  to  use  them  in  his 
service  who  gave  them  me.  I  have,  since  my  residence 
here,  felt  stronger  desires  than  ever  before,  to  preach 
the  gospel.  It  must  be  a  blessed  employment  to  train 
up  soldiers  for  the  army  of  the  cross,  to  be  the  messen- 
ger of  God  to  his  people,  to  preach  '  Christ  and  him 
crucified'  to  a  world  of  perishing  sinners.  For  this  I 
would  willingly  live  till  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven 
shall  call  me  to  himself.  Yes,  if  it  is  the  will  of  God 
that  I  shall  stay  here,  I  will  not  repine,  though  this  de- 
sire be  not  granted.  I  know  in  whom  I  have  trusted. 
He  will  not  appoint  me  to  sufferings  which  it  is  not 
best  that  I  should  undergo  ;  nor  give  me  pleasures  that 
shall  draw  my  affections  from  him.  And  when  I  shall 
have  done  serving  him  below,  I  shall  go  to  his  seat  in 
heaven,  to  behold   his  face  and  be  like  my  Savior, 

*  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  and  separate  from'  every 
thing  which  can  draw  me  from  his  service.  So  I  hope 
— so  I  pray — and  so  I  trust.  '  The  Lord  is  not  slack 
concerning  his  promise  as  some  men  count  slackness.' 

*  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him.'  *  My 
heart  doth  magnify  the  Lord'—'  for  his  mercy  endureth 
forever.'  This  is  the  ground  of  my  hope — '  His  mercy 
endureth  forever.'  It  shall  never  be  clean  gone  from 
me  though  my  sins  are  as  scarlet  and  of  a  crimson  hue. 
I  am  verily  vile  and  unworthy;  but  my  Savior  Christ 
is  sufficient — his  blood  *  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin' — it 
can  level  mountains  of  transgressions.  Though  all  the 
sins  of  all  the  good  men  who  have  lived  since  the  days 
of  Noah  were  upon  me,  yet  would  I  look  up.    I  would 

5* 


106  MEMOIR    OF 

Spread  them  all  before  God,  and  beseech  him  to  save, 
for  the  Redeemer's  sake." 

He  gradually  recovered  the  use  of  his  eyes,  so  that 
in  two  weeks,  he  could  use  them  for  a  considerable 
time  without  much  pain,  and  with  a  fair  prospect  of 
entire  recovery.  The  goodness  of  God  in  thus  restoring 
him  greatly  affected  his  heart.  "  Thus  am  I  raised  up," 
he  says,  "  from  that  degree  of  despondency  which  was 
a  natural,  though  not  justifiable,  consequence  of  the 
failure  of  my  eyes.  God  has,  by  this  act  of  mercy,  laid 
me  under  new^  obligations  to  live  to  his  glory.  He  it  is 
that  gives  me  all  things  to  enjoy — he  raises  me  from 
the  depth  of  affliction  and  makes  me  sing  for  gladness 
of  heart." 

With  such  feelings  and  purposes,  he  returned  to  New 
Haven,  and  took  his  first  degree  in  the  arts,  Septem- 
ber 9th,  1812. 


CHAPTER     V. 

Takes  charge  of  the  Academy  at  Fah-fiekl, — His  religious  expe- 
rience while  at  F. — Testimonials. 

Mu.  B.  was  now  in  the  23d  year  of  his  life,  and, 
as  we  have  seen,  possessed  of  a  liberal  education.  For 
this  he  was,  under  God,  indebted  to  his  own  exertions 
and  that  kind  Providence,  already  mentioned,  by 
which  he  had  been  furnished  with  the  means  of  meet- 
ing the  last  two  or  three  years'  expense  of  his  college- 
course.  He  deserves,  therefore,  to  be  regarded  as  a 
self-made  man.    Through  many  and  severe  embarrass- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  107 

ments  he  had  persevered,  without  charitable  aid,  until 
he  had  attained  the  object  which  had  at  first  prompted 
him  to  study. 

He  would  gladly  have  entered  at  once  upon  the  study 
of  theology,  and  have  pressed  forward  into  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  But  his  means  were  exhausted,  and  he 
found  it  necessary  to  defer  the  attainment  of  his  anxious 
desire,  at  least  for  a  year  or  two.  His  intercourse  with 
the  people  of  Fairfield,  during  his  brief  sojourn  among 
them,  had  been  so  mutually  pleasing,  that  he  was 
welcomed  again  among  them  as  principal  of  their 
academy.  Thither  he  proceeded  on  the  second  day  af- 
ter commencement,  and  opened  his  school  on  the  fol- 
lowing Monday. 

Shortly  after  he  revisited  his  native  place,  and  with 
renewed  delight  mingled  again  among  the  companions 
and  guardians  of  his  youth.  On  his  return  to  Fairfield, 
November  13th,  he  exhibits  a  joyous  and  grateful  frame 
of  mind,  and  is  prompted  to  renew  his  covenant-en- 
gagements in  the  following  language  : 

"  During  the  whole  journey,  God  gave  me  health, 
strength,  and  prosperity.  I  found  my  friends  in  health 
and  in  comfortable  circumstances;  and  was  returned  to 
this  place,  with  fresh  experience  of  Divine  mercy.  In 
consideration  of  the  renewed  obligations  under  which  I 
am  laid,  by  these  and  other  blessings  that  are  daily 
bestowed  on  me,  by  God,  I  have  determined  to  dedi- 
cate myself  again  to  him,  to  be  entirely  his,  soul  and 
body,  for  time  and  eternity.  And  I  beseech  the  eter- 
nal God  to  enable  me  to  perform  this  my  resolution, 
encouraging  me  by  his  promises,  and  strengthening  me 
by  his  grace.  I,  moreover,  promise  before  the  great 
Jehovah  and  the  holy  angels,  that  I  will  no  more  live 


108  MEMOIR    OF 

to  myself,  but  to  God,  who  made  me,  and  upholds  me  in 
being.  And  this  I  do,  not  trusting  in  my  own  power 
or  goodness,  but  in  the  mercy  of  God,  who  has  prom- 
ised never  to  forsake  his  dear  children." 

His  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  of  a  good  hope  did 
not,  in  the  least  degree,  diminish  his  sense  of  the  native 
vileness  of  his  own  heart.  On  the  other  hand,  he 
seems  to  have  had  still  more  humbhng  views  of  him- 
self. On  occasion  of  hearing  a  sermon  from  1  Cor. 
1:  30,  on  the  22d  of  November,  he  describes  himself  as 
follows : 

"  It  appears  to  me  that  I  can  realize  one  part  of  the 
discourse  in  the  state  of  my  own  heart.  I  am  dread- 
fully unwise  as  well  as  guilty  in  my  transgressions. 
The  things  which  I  most  covet,  are  those  which,  if  pos- 
sessed by  me,  w^ould  render  my  life  inglorious  and  use- 
less. In  denying  them  lo  me,  God  provides  for  my 
temporal,  as  well  as  my  eternal,  happiness.  How  blind 
then,  is  my  sinful  heart !  One  would  suppose  that  de- 
pravity is  justly  defined  as — '  an  inclination  of  the 
heart  to  work  its  own  misery.'  It  is,  in  fact,  down- 
right madness.  I  am  partially,  if  not  wholly  mad  ; 
bent  on  obtaining  those  things  which  would  prove  my 
ruin ;  determined  to  render  myself  justly  deserving  of 
hell.  Were  it  not  for  the  restraining  grace  of  God,  I 
should  rush  forth  into  the  grossest  acts  of  rebellion  that 
ever  polluted  any  one  of  the  fallen  race.  I  cannot  even 
imagine  a  crime  too  horrible  for  me  to  perpetrate ;  un- 
less God  should  hold  me  back  from  the  perpetration 
by  an  irresistible  arm.  Such  is  actually  my  heart,  as 
it  appears  to  me  ; — and  yet  I  have  hope  of  everlasting 
life.  Yes,  blessed  Jesus  !  it  is  all  one  with  thee  to  save 
with  many  or  with  few.     Thou  canst  have  mercy  on 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  109 

the  chief  of  sinners.  Here  is  my  hope  ;  a  hope  which 
sin  cannot  remove,  nor  wicked  men  and  devils  destroy. 
He  who  hath  promised  is  faithful  and  able  to  perform." 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1812,  he  appears  to  have 
been  making  progress  both  in  physical  and  spiritual 
health.  December  20th,  he  says,  as  the  result  of  his 
weekly  self-examination — "  It  does  appear  to  me  that 
I  esteem  the  commandments  of  God  as  very  precious, 
that  I  love  his  ordinances,  and  would  rather  be  a  door- 
keeper in  the  house  of  God,  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents 
of  wickedness." 

Again,  Lord's  day,  Decemher  21th  : — "  Have  been 
mercifully  spared  another  week.  My  eyes  appear  to 
be  gradually  gaining  strength.  I  am  now  able  to  go 
through  with  the  duties  of  my  school,  without  giving 
them  much  pain,  though  they  are  far  from  having  re- 
gained their  original  strength.  My  school  commenced 
a  new  quarter  the  last  week  ;  which  made  it  necessary 
for  me  to  use  my  eyes  more  than  I  could  wish,  and  much 
more  than  I  have  been  accustomed  to  in  time  past ;  but 
I  cannot  perceive  that  it  has  been  attended  with  any 
particular  inconvenience.  On  the  whole,  I  have  great 
reason  to  be  thankful  for  the  continued  recovery  of  my 
sight.  It  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  see  the  light  of  the 
sun,  more  pleasant  to  see  the  faces  of  my  friends,  and 
most  of  all,  to  be  allowed  to  look  into  the  book  of  life. 
O  Lord  !  illumine  my  soul,  that  my  dark  mind  may 
perceive  and  rejoice  in  the  perception  of  thyself." 

He  complains,  January  17th,  of  being  "  criminally 
negligent  in  the  following  particulars :  1.  In  culti- 
vating a  devotional  spirit.  2.  In  resisting  my  appe- 
tites and  passions.  3.  In  maintaining  a  sense  of  my 
.dependence  on  God.     4.  In  giving  a  time  to  the  exer- 


110  MEMOIR   OF 

cise  of  my  devotions.  5.  In  examining  into  the  grounds 
of  my  Christian  hope." 

Again  we  have  an  instance  in  which,  with  unaffect- 
ed sincerity,  he  describes  himself  as  among  the  vilest 
of  the  vile,  and  then  exalts  his  crucified  Redeemer,  as 
every  way  fitted  to  save  him,  though  he  were  a  hun- 
dred times  more  guilty. 

"  Blessed  God  !  how  corrupt  is  my  wicked  heart ! 
— how  profligate  has  been  my  life  !  *  Which  way  I 
look  is  sin, — myself  am  sin.'  Can  it  be  that  a  temple 
so  polluted  is  the  residence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ?  Thou, 
O  Lord  !  knowest.  This  one  thing  I  know,  that  I  de- 
serve only  thy  indignation.  Shouldst  thou  cut  me  off 
from  all  hopes  of  pardon,  and  acceptance  with  thee, 
my  own  reason  would  justify  the  procedure ; — saints 
and  angels  would  praise  thee  for  it.  When,  at  the  last 
day,  the  hearts  of  men  shall  be  exposed,  and  their 
thoughts  manifested,  before  thy  vast  creation  ;  it  will 
then  appear  that  my  heart  is  a  sink  of  iniquity,  a  pol- 
luted nest  for  every  unclean  and  hateful  bird,  a  fortress 
of  Satan,  from  which  his  fiery  darts  are  hurled  at  the 
soldiers  of  the  cross.  What,  then,  shall  I  offer  for  my 
life,  or  how,  or  where  shall  I  find  arguments  to  plead 
with  thee  for  deliverance  from  this  mire  of  sin.  I  am 
neither  greater  nor  better  than  the  many  thousands 
whom  thou  hast  condemned  to  suffer  the  dreadful  ef- 
fects of  their  own  folly.  Thou  hast  no  need  of  me  to 
increase  thine  essential  glory  or  happiness.  It  is  infi- 
nitely easy  for  thee  to  create  millions  of  more  glorious 
beings  than  I  am,  endow  them  with  nobler  faculties, 
and  make  them  completely  devoted  to  thy  praise  and 
the  everlasting  interests  of  thy  kingdom.  All  that  I 
can  plead  before  thee  is  the  depth  of  my  want  and  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  Ill 

glorious  fulness  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  is  able — he  is  wor- 
thy. In  him,  and  in  him  alone,  can  I  hope  for  the 
remission  of  sin — for  deliverance  from  the  ghastly 
ruin,  into  which  I  have,  most  foolishly,  plunged  my 
own  soul.  Jesus  is  worthy  !  Had  I  a  hundred-fold 
more  guilt  to  be  taken  away,  I  would  venture  to  his 
cross. — Had  I  a  hundred  souls  to  be  saved  or  lost,  I 
would  trust  them  all  in  his  hands." 

His  increasing  attachment  to  the  Savior,  and  faith  in 
his  blood,  is  thus  plainly  exhibited.  How  readily  now 
he  betakes  himself,  in  every  time  of  need,  to  the  cross  ! 
How  soon  he  finds  comfort  in  the  promises  !  In  all  this 
we  see  the  evidence  of  a  continued  growth  in  grace. 

Yet  to  his  own  mind  he  seemed  to  be  making  little, 
if  any,  progress.  The  more  enlarged  views  which  he 
now  is  permitted  to  have  of  the  plan  of  redemption, 
and  the  necessity  of  the  atonement  in  order  to  the  sal- 
vation of  sinners,  also  lead  him  to  entertain  a  deeper 
sense  of  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  the  human  heart, 
so  that  while  he  is  better  acquainted  with  the  doctrines 
of  the  Bible,  and  better  knows  the  Lord,  he  seems 
really  to  be  but  little  advanced  in  the  work  of  purify- 
mcr  his  heart.  If  he  succeeds  in  castino^  one  sin  out  he 
is  the  better  enabled  to  see  his  remaining  corruption. 
He  therefore  seems  to  make  fewer  conquests  than  dis- 
coveries. Hence  it  is  that,  the  more  a  man  advances 
in  the  grace  of  the  gospel,  he  learns  to  have  more  hum- 
bling views  of  himself. 

After  an  extensive  review  of  his  Christian  course, 
March  21st,  Mr.  B.  thus  writes:  "I  am  continually 
resolving  to  do  well,  but,  unfortunately,  never  carry  my 
resolutions  completely  into  practice.  The  next  May 
will  bring  the  fifth  anniversary  of  my  Christian  pro- 


112  MEMOIR    OF 

fession.  During  this  time,  I  have  made  comparatively 
httle,  if  any,  progress  in  '  the  path  of  the  just.'  I  am 
slow  to  duty ; — knit  to  the  world ; — distracted  by 
worldly  thoughts,  in  the  house  of  God,  and  even  in  the 
devotions  of  the  closet.  When  I  examine  into  the 
state  of  my  heart,  I  find  there  a  world  of  iniquity.  In 
all  this  I  have  no  excuse ;  but  such  as  wicked  beings 
may,  without  exception,  plead  for  their  rebellion.  My 
situation  in  hfe  has  not  been  such  as  to  expose  me  to 
any  pecnhar  temptation.  I  have  had  neither  riches 
nor  poverty,  abundant  honor  nor  disgrace.  My  wants 
have,  nevertheless,  all  been  supplied — my  health  has 
been  constantly  good." 

Having  alluded  to  the  weakness  of  his  eyes,  by 
which  his  progress  in  some  branches  of  education  had 
been  impeded,  he  adds, — "  But  I  have  not,  in  the 
mean  time,  been  thrown  out  of  useful  employ.  My 
prayer  has  been  heard  concerning  this  matter ;  and  my 
eyes  are  now  apparently  in  a  fair  way  to  recover.  The 
people  in  this  place  have  not  been  wanting  in  kindness 
to  me  since  my  arrival  here.  The  family  with  whom  I 
board,  neglect  no  means  in  their  power  of  making  my 
situation  more  than  usually  agreeable.  I  have,  besides, 
the  satisfaction  of  beheving  that  my  efforts  in  the  acad- 
emy have  not  been  made  entirely  in  vain.  No  partic- 
ular attention  to  religion  has,  as  yet,  appeared  to  follow 
ray  instructions  ;  but  I  do  perceive  in  my  pupils  an  in- 
creasing attention  to  their  books,  and  I  hope,  also,  to 
their  moral  conduct  generally. 

"  I  have  very  many  precious  opportunities  of  meet- 
ing with  the  people  of  God  for  conference  and  prayer. 
My  situation  enables  me  to  take  an  active  part  in  these 
meetings,  to  recommend,  in  conversation,  the  wisdom 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  113 

and  preciousness  of  the  gospel  of  peace ;  and  thereby 
impose  a  restraint  on  my  conversation,  useful  to  myself, 
inasmuch  as  it  throws  me  out  of  the  circle  of  the  fash- 
ionable world.  But,  notwithstanding  all  these  and 
many  more  circumstances  which  might  be  mentioned, 
equally  favorable  to  the  growth  of  my  Christian  graces, 
my  leanness  may  w^ell  be  manifest  to  all  who  are  ac- 
quainted with  me.  The  Lord  is  witness  against  me, 
that  I  am  an  unfruitful  tree.  If  I  am  ever  made  meet 
for  an  inheritance  among  the  blessed,  it  wnll  all  be  of 
free  sovereign  mercy." 

At  a  subsequent  examination  of  himself,  he  says, — 
"  I  find  myself  guilty  of  pride  in  my  appearance ;  of 
reading  the  Scriptures  and  praying  to  God  in  too  care- 
less a  manner ;  of  neglecting  to  visit  a  sick-bed  in  this 
neighborhood,  when  duty  most  evidently  required  it ; 
of  introducing  and  maintaining  unprofitable  conversa- 
tion in  some  of  the  visits  I  have  lately  made." 

On  the  twentieth  of  March  he  thus  writes  to  his  pa- 
rents :  "  If  my  memory  does  not  deceive  me,  I  requested 
you,  in  the  letter  I  sent  by  Sylvester,  to  write  me 
as  soon  as  convenient,  on  the  subject  of  my  continuing 
here  another  year.  The  trustees  of  the  academy  have 
given  me  more  than  a  merely  formal  invitation  to  stay. 
I  have  reason  to  think  that  my  exertions  to  better  the 
state  of  the  academy,  have  not  been  entirely  misspent. 
The  people  here  are  very  kind  to  me, — the  family  with 
whom  I  board,  agreeable  and  obliging  ; — the  avails  of 
the  school  fund  are  something  handsome  ;  and  indeed 
most  things,  as  far  as  my  temporal  concerns  are  affect- 
ed, are  much  as  I  would  have  them.  If  I  leave  here, 
it  is  not  very  probable  that  I  shall  find  my  eyes  strong 
enough  to  enter  on  the  study  of  dignity  the  next  fall. 


114  MEMOIR    OF 

Should  I  go  to  Andover,  which  all  in  these  parts  advise 
me  to  do,  ray  expenses  there  will  be  considerable  ; — a 
hundred  dollars  per  year,  at  the  least,  and  probably 
more. 

"  Why  then  should  I  not  stSy  ?  Another  year,  with 
the  blessing  of  God  upon  my  exertions,  would  enable 
me  to  prosecute  my  studies,  free  from  anxiety,  on  the 
subject  of  support ;  and,  it  may  be,  relieve  me  from 
the  weakness  of  eyes,  with  which  I  am  at  present  ex- 
ercised. In  the  mean  time,  I  shall  have  a  plenty  of 
books  and  readers  at  my  command.  Besides  all  this,  I 
do  actually  find  that  my  eyes  are  much  stronger  than 
when  I  came  here,  although  it  has  been  necessary  for 
me  to  use  them  much  more  than  it  would  be  in  time  to 
come.  I  gave  out  my  quarterly  bills  the  last  week  ; — 
hope  to  be  able  soon  to  discharge  all  my  debts.  The 
amount  of  what  I  have  received  and  have  owing  to  me 
here,  for  my  six  months'  work,  is  ^267.  I  owed  when 
I  came  here  about  130  dollars.  My  board,  in  the 
mean  time,  has  cost  me  48  dollars ;  and  my  other  ex- 
penses, including  clothes,  for  the  same  time,  probably 
amount  to  50  more ;  so  that  I  have  the  pleasure  of 
finding  myself  something  more  than  even  with  the 
w^orld. 

"  Riches,  I  think,  I  do  not  desire  ;  but  I  ought,  un- 
questionably, to  feel  the  force  of  the  command  :  '  Owe 
no  man  any  thing.'  It  gives  me  a  satisfaction  to  think 
that  if  I  were  to  be  taken  from  the  world  suddenly,  I 
have  enough  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  those  who,  with- 
out other  security  than  my  word,  or  other  prospects  of 
reward,  than  that  of  the  pleasure  of  assisting  me  in  ob- 
taining the  objects  of  my  pursuit,  have,  on  all  occa- 
sions, been  ready  to  advance  me  any  sum  which  I 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  115 

wished  for.  I  think  that  I  also  feel  that  God  has  been 
very  good  to  me,  in  placing  me  in  this  dependent  situ- 
ation ;  and  particularly,  in  so  ordering  the  circum- 
stances of  my  life,  that  I  am  able  to  see  his  hand  in  all 
his  dealings  with  me.  It  is  not  enough  that  I  receive 
temporal  good  things,  I  Avould  receive  them  from 
God — I  would  have  them  the  gifts  of  our  Heavenly 
Father." 

Towards  the  last  of  June,  he  seems  to  have  lost  much 
of  that  enjoyment  which  had  continued  for  nearly  a 
year,  and  to  have  relapsed  into  a  state  of  despondency. 
He  accounts  for  it  by  the  expressive  remark — "  I  have 
got  more  into  the  world  than  I  ought."  How  many 
can  trace  their  darkness  and  coldness  to  the  same  cause  ! 
— "  Experience  teaches  me,"  he  adds,  July  4th,  "  that 
the  maxims  and  customs  of  this  w^orld  are  far  from 
favoring  a  life  of  devotion  to  God.  How  often  has 
my  being  conformed  to  them  wounded  my  soul !  Many 
have  been  the  resolutions  that  I  have  made  against 
this  sin,  and  many  and  aggravatedly  wicked  my  de- 
partures from  them.  In  most,  if  not  all,  of  these  cases, 
the  Lord  has  punished  me  with  the  loss  of  his  blessed 
countenance,  distressing  indiiference  to  his  cause,  and 
difficult  access  to  the  throne  of  grace.  Righteous  art 
thou,  O  Lord  !  in  all  thy  judgments.  But  Oh  !  may  it 
not  consist  w^ith  thy  holy  pleasure  to  lighten  thy  chas- 
tening hand  which  thus  lies  heavily  upon  me  ?  I  ask 
not  riches,  nor  honors,  nor  any  worldly  good ;  I  plead 
for  the  cheering  light  of  thy  countenance.  Give  me 
but  this  and  I  will  be  satisfied.  Teach  me  by  thy  Holy 
Spirit,  and  I  will  covet  no  higher  wisdom.  But,  O 
Lord !  such  is  the  hardness  of  my  heart,  my  proneness 
to  forget  thee,  and  my  love  of  this  vain  and  evil  world, 


116  MEMOIR   OF 

that  I  can  no  longer  trust  to  my  resolutions  or  efforts 
to  keep  myself  in  the  strait  and  narrow  way.  I  need 
thy  guidance  and  help.  Thy  Spirit  must  sanctify,  thy 
grace  preserve,  and  thy  mercy  forgive  me,  or  all  my 
hopes  will  set  in  eternal  darkness.  I  am  utterly  un- 
worthy, and  unclean  before  thee.  Forgive  the  sins  of 
my  holy  things ;  and  enable  me  to  put  my  confidence 
entirely  in  thy  rich  grace." 

The  following  letter  to  his  parents  is  dated  July  6th, 
1813  : — "  No  material  change  has  taken  place,  in  my 
circumstances,  since  I  last  wrote  to  you ;  but  I  am  un- 
willing that  a  longer  time  than  six  weeks  should  elapse 
without  your  hearing  from  me. 

"  The  people  of  Fairfield  have  had  a  touch  of  the 
prevailing  fever.  Several  died  with  it ;  and  one  was 
sick  with  it,  but  a  few  rods  from  the  house  in  which  I 
board.  A  great  proportion  of  the  people  were  very 
fearful  of  its  contagion  ;  had  it  spread  extensively  here, 
I  really  think  there  would  have  been  great  difficulty  in 
procuring  persons  to  watch  with  and  nurse  the  sick.  I 
visited  several,  who  were  sick  with  it ;  not  without  the 
censure  of  several  of  our  neighbors,  for  wantonly  ex- 
posing my  life.  But  to  me,  it  appeared  in  a  different 
point  of  light.  I  could  not  believe  but  that,  in  this,  as 
well  as  in  all  other  cases,  the  path  of  duty  was,  on  the 
whole,  a  safe  one.  Physicians  tell  me,  that  intemperate 
persons  are  most  liable  to  have  this  fever ;  and  are  sel- 
dom known  to  recover  from  it. 

"  My  eyes  are,  I  think,  in  a  convalescing  state  ;  weak 
indeed,  but  not  so  much  so  as  to  prevent  my  going 
through  with  the  duties  of  my  employment.  The  num- 
ber of  scholars  in  the  academy  is  greatly  increased,  so 
that  I  am  obliged  to   have  an   assistant.     Happily, 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  117 

through  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  exertions  of  some 
of  my  friends  in  Yale,  I  have  succeeded  in  getting  one, 
who  promises  to  please  the  good  people  of  Fairfield. 
The  trustees  of  the  academy  visited  my  school  yester- 
day ;  and  one  of  them  told  me,  after  it,  that  he  never 
was  in  a  school  where  so  much  good  order  was  manifest. 
Of  course,  the  academy  is  pronounced  to  be  in  a  flourish- 
ing state  ;  and  I  am  allowed  great  credit  for  raising  it. 
There  was,  in  fact,  but  little  order  or  industry  in  it, 
when  I  came  here.  Most  of  the  students  were  disgusted 
with  their  instructor;  some  of  them,  more  bold  and 
unmannerly  than  the  rest,  openly  insulted  him  to  his 
face. 

"  But  it  would  be  arrogant,  in  me,  to  attribute  the 
change  which  has  taken  place  in  the  institution  to  my 
own  wisdom.  The  people  here  have  seconded  all  my 
efforts  to  reform.  The  scholars  have  been  led  to  under- 
stand, that  whatever  I  did  would  be  considered  as  well 
done.  But  I  have  most  of  all  to  acknowledge  the 
divine  assistance.  I  never  yet  thought  myself  compe- 
tent to  the  management  of  such  an  institution ;  but  what 
can  we  not  do,  when  the  strength  of  the  Lord  is  on  our 
side  ?  Oh  !  continue  to  pray  much  for  me,  that  I  may  be 
faithful,  and,  in  all  things,  be  directed  of  God.  I  some- 
times think,  that  all  my  success  is  owing  to  your 
prayers." 

An  affecting  sense  of  the  evil  of  losing  the  light  of 
God's  countenance  makes  him  shortly  after  cry  out, — 
"  Oh !  may  the  language  of  my  heart  be, — '  None  but 
Christ,  none  but  Christ.'  " 

His  pride  seems  at  this  time,  (perhaps  on  account  of 
the  active  part  which  he  took  in  the  exercises  of  re- 
ligious meetings,  and  in  the  promotion  of  religion,)  to 


118  MEMOIR    OF 

have  given  him  particular  trouble.  On  the  18/^  of 
September,  he  writes, — "  Of  all  my  wicked  propensi- 
ties, pride  appears  to  be  the  most  deceitful  and  obdurate. 
I  discern  it  creeping  into  my  devotions,  and  even  my 
humblest  confessions  of  unworthiness.  Should  God  meet 
with  me  in  mercy,  and  bestow  upon  me  the  consola- 
tions of  his  Holy  Spirit,  it  is  most  probable  that  I  should 
be  proud  of  the  blessing.  I  am  proud  of  my  tal- 
ents, my  employment,  my  success,  my  religious  per- 
formances, my  humility  and  my  sin ;  yea,  sometimes,  of 
belonging  to  that  kingdom  which  admits  none  but  the 
humble  and  lowly  of  heart." 

At  the  end  of  this  month  he  made  a  visit  to  his  na- 
tive place,  of  which,  on  his  return,  he  thus  speaks,  Oct. 
^\st. — "  Through  the  divine  goodness  I  returned  to  this 
place  yesterday,  after  a  visit  of  four  weeks  to  my 
parents,  in  the  state  of  New-York.  I  found  them,  to- 
gether with  my  other  friends  there,  in  a  state  of  health. 
My  sister-in-law  became  hopefully  pious,  during  my 
stay  at  Durham.  The  people  appeared  thoughtless  on 
serious  subjects,  except  a  few  who  had  made  a  Christian 
profession,  and  who  continue  to  countenance  and  attend 
the  religious  meetings  which  were  held  in  different 
parts  of  the  society.  A  melancholy  declension  had 
taken  place  in  some  of  the  professors. 

"  My  friends  in  Durham  received  me  with  great  kind- 
ness. I  attended  some  religious  meetings,  made  some 
truly  religious  visits,  read  several  useful  books,  and  re- 
turned in  safety  to  my  former  residence.  Upon  exam- 
ination of  my  conduct  on  my  journey,  I  find  that  I  have 
been  foohshly  guilty  of  entering  too  forwardly  into  dis- 
putes with  strangers,  particularly  on  political  subjects. 
This  is  a  fault  I  am  prone  to  commit,  and  against  which, 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  119 

by  the  help  of  God,  I  mean  to  guard  in  time  to  come. 
The  Lord  make  me  thankful  for  all  his  benefits." 

This  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  others,  as  in  all 
similar  cases,  seems  to  have  promoted  his  own  spiritual 
joys.  '*  While  I  heard  the  word  of  God  to-day,"  he 
says,  JYovemher  1th,  "  my  heart  burned  within  me.  It 
does  appear  to  me  that  I  know  no  friend  in  comparison 
with  Christ." 

So  again,  JYovemher  21st. — "  If  I  am  not  deceived, 
I  have  found,  this  day,  sweet  consolation  in  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  in  his  house  of  prayer.  My  examination 
of  myself  too  ends  in  a  pleasing  hope,  that  I  am  born 
again.  True,  my  heart  is  full  of  sin  : — I  know  it : — I 
feel  it :  but,  God  be  praised,  there  is  in  Christ  free  and 
complete  redemption." 

He  now  takes  increasing  delight  in  the  Sanctuary 
and  in  God's  word.  JVov.  28th. — "  It  does  appear  to 
me,  that  I  take  delight  in  the  appropriate  exercises  of 
the  holy  Sabbath.  The  Sanctuary  is  the  pleasantest 
house  I  ever  visited.  Were  I  denied  the  privilege  of 
waiting  upon  God,  in  that  holy  place,  I  know  not  any 
thing  of  a  temporal  and  worldly  nature,  which  could 
make  amends  for  the  loss  of  the  enjoyment  that  I  find 
there.  Surely,  it  is  better  to  be  a  door-keeper  in  the 
house  of  God,  than  to  riot  in  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a 
season. 

"  I  also  think  that  I  derive  increasing  satisfaction 
from  reading,  and  meditating  in,  the  sacred  Oracles. 
But,  of  these,  I  have  to  lament  my  neglect  and  igno- 
rance. I  have  not  studied  them  as  much  as  I  might. 
And  doubtless  God  has,  on  that  account,  denied  me 
many  spiritual  blessings.     Perhaps  it  is  owing  to  this 


120  MEMOIR    OF 

neglect,  that  I  have  been  so  often  overcome  by  my 
spiritual  enemies. 

"  Certain  it  is,  that  my  ability  to  oppose  the  two  pro- 
pensities, which  most  frequently  and  fatally  assail  me, 
has  not  greatly  increased.  Though  I  have  prayed  fre- 
quently for  more  grace  and  strength,  I  am  still  over- 
come, in  many  instances ;  and  not  unfrequently  to  my 
utter  confusion.  0  blessed  God  !  have  mercy  upon  me. 
Thou  art  stronger  than  the  strong  man  armed.  Thou 
canst  wrest  from  him  his  weapons ;  and  make  a  feeble 
unworthy  worm  to  triumph  in  thy  strength.  Oh !  give 
me  a  humble  confidence  in  thine  assistance,  and  a  dis- 
trust of  my  own  power.  Waxing  strong  from  a  sense 
of  my  own  weakness,  may  I  march  forw^ard,  under  the 
banners  of  King  Jesus,  and,  with  the  sword  of  prayer, 
transfix  every  spiritual  foe.  Give  me  this,  and  thine 
shall  be  all  the  glory  and  the  praise." 

Again,  December  19th,  he  wTites, — "  I  feel  this  even- 
ing a  love  to  all  men.  If  there  is  a  person  to  whom  I 
am  inimical,  I  am  unconscious  of  it.  God  appears  to 
me  exceedingly  glorious,  and  his  Son  altogether  lovely. 
It  does  appear  to  me  that  I  am  willing  to  spend  and  be 
spent  in  his  cause." 

In  this  happy  frame  of  mind  he  continued  for  many 
weeks.  But  towards  the  close  of  the  winter  he  fre- 
quently speaks  of  trouble  from  his  besetting  sins.  Of 
these,  two  appear  to  have  been  quite  prominent,  prid  e 
and  love  of  the  world.  He  calls  them — "  my  two  most 
besetting  sins." 

In  his  diary  of  ./ipril  3d,  he  alludes  to  a  cause  of 
spiritual  distress,  and  want  of  profit  from  the  ordinances 
to  which  others  may  well  give  heed.     After  complain- 


REV.  DR.    BALDWIN.  121 

ing  of  his  "  neglect  to  prepare  for  the  Sabbath,"  he 
adds, — "  I  have  found  from  experience,  that  consolation 
and  hope  are  dealt  out  to  me,  much  in  proportion  as  I 
am  careful  to  prepare  beforehand  for  the  different  exer- 
cises of  religious  worship;  and  that  I  always  find  a 
cause  for  distressing  doubts  and  fears,  in  the  relaxation 
of  my  faithfulness  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  Such,  in- 
deed, is  my  miserable  depravity,  that  I  am  continually 
straying  from  duty.  Have  mercy  on  me,  O  my  God  ! 
for  the  Redeemer's  sake." 

His  diary  during  the  remainder  of  his  abode  at  Fair- 
field presents  little  else  than  complaints  against  himself 
for  his  "  foolish  neglect  of  duty,"  his  love  for  the  world, 
his  forgetfulness  of  the  word,  his  wasting  the  precious 
hours  of  the  Sabbath,  his  consequent  "  weeks  of  dull 
devotion  and  insensibility  to  the  pains  of  hell  or  the 
glories  of  heaven."  "  Sometimes,"  he  says,  July  ^\st, 
"  the  Sabbath  has  found  my  mind  in  a  tumult  of  un- 
governable passions ;  at  others  in  a  state  of  sluggish 
indifference.  For  this  the  Lord  has  evidently  punished 
me  by  leanness  of  consolation  and  hope." 

In  all  this  we  discover  the  unshaken  determination  to 
be  honest  with  himself — to  ferret  out  every  hidden  lust, 
and  give  no  quarter  to  any  sinful  propensity.  His  sins 
are  his  abomination;  he  loathes  them;  he  strives  to 
shake  them  off;  he  prays,  he  pleads  for  deliverance. 
Nor  does  he  struggle  and  pray  in  vain.  All  this  con- 
flict is  but  for  a  season.  He  comes  forth  unharmed — a 
conqueror  and  more  than  a  conqueror  through  him  that 
loved  him. 

During  the  period  of  his  residence  at  Fairfield  he 
greatly  endeared  himself  to  the  people.  The  Hon. 
Roger  M.   Sherman  remarks,   that  "he  was  much 

6 


122  MEMOIR   OF 

esteemed  by  his  friends,  and  I  presume  never  had  an 
enemy.  Respectable  literary  and  intellectual  endow- 
ments, with  an  excellent  moral  spirit,  and  great  fidelity 
in  the  discharge  of  every  duty,  made  him  very  useful 
and  much  beloved.  He  was  not  of  that  order  of  men 
who  surprise  and  charm  by  traits  of  originality,  but  of 
the  better  class,  who,  by  judicious  and  constant  devotion 
to  useful  objects,  raise  monuments  to  their  fame  by  the 
good  which  they  accomplish.  All  can  bear  witness  to 
his  happy  influence  on  the  intellectual,  moral,  and 
social  character  of  his  pupils,  and  to  the  aptitude  of  his 
intercourse  to  improve  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey  says — "  I  knew  Dr.  Baldwin 
intimately  for  more  than  thirty  years  ;  and  to  know  him, 
as  I  did,  was  to  be  often  reminded  of  our  Lord's 
memorable  commendation  of  Nathanael — '  Behold  an 
Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile.'  I  think  that  I 
never  knew  a  man  better  entitled  to  that  divine  com- 
mendation. 

"  Our  particular  acquaintance  commenced  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  academy  in  Fairfield,  Con.,  where  I 
had  recently  been  settled  in  the  ministry.  This  was  in 
the  fall  of  1809.  He  w'as  an  eminently  faithful  and 
popular  teacher.  Such  a  perennial  overflowing  w^as 
there  of  kindness  and  benevolence  in  all  his  intercourse 
with  his  pupils,  that  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  one  of 
them  living,  who  does  not  remember  him  with  gratitude 
and  affection.  Though  not  a  member  of  my  family,  he 
was  as  intimate  at  our  house  as  a  brother,  and  as  a 
brother  I  loved  him.  We  w^alked  together,  we  read 
together,  we  prayed  together,  we  compared  our  respec- 
tive views  on  a  great  variety  of  subjects,  particularly  re- 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  123 

ligious,  with  the  most  perfect  freedom  ;  and  that  entire 
confidence,  which  I  soon  learned  to  repose  in  him,  I 
never  found  the  slightest  reason  to  modify  or  regret.  I 
would  intrust  him  all  that  was  in  my  heart  as  safely  as 
I  could  my  bosom-companion." 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Enters  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  Mass. — Visit  to  Dr. 
Emmons. — Journey  to  Connecticut. — Prepares  a  Tract. — 
Tests  of  Love  to  Christ. — Licensed  to  preach. — Labors  at 
Nottingham, — Ordination. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Baldwin,  in  resigning  the 
charge  of  the  academy  at  Fairfield,  to  enter  upon  a 
course  of  Theological  study.  The  rising  fame  of  the 
Divinity-School  at  Andover,  Mass.,  had  reached  him, 
and  he  longed  to  associate  with  the  devoted  youth  who 
were  there  preparing  themselves  to  labor  in  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord. 

He  arrived  at  Andover,  November  11th,  1814,  and 
the  next  day  was  admitted  to  the  seminary.  The 
disposition  which  he  made  of  the  intervening  time  may 
be  learned  from  the  following  extract : — "  I  continued 
the  instructor  of  Fairfield-academy  till  Sept.  9th,  1814, 
when  I  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  my  interesting  pu- 
pils and  friends  there,  and  after  a  visit  of  seven  weeks 
to  my  parents,  whom  I  found  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances, made  my  way  directly  to  this  place.  My  eyes 
appear  to  be,  in  some  measure,  recovered  from  their 
weakness.  My  health  has  been  and  still  continues  to 
be  good ;  and  I  have  thus  far  been  remarkably  pros- 
pered in  my  lawful  undertakings. 


124  MEMOIR   OF 

"  The  good  people  of  Fairfield  appeared  to  be  satis- 
fied-with  the  manner  in  which  I  conducted  the  affairs 
of  their  academy.  My  pupils  testified  much  regret  at  my 
leaving  them.  During  my  stay  at  Durham,  I  taught 
a  small  school,  with  whose  demeanor  and  improvement 
I  was  well  satisfied. 

"  But  there  is  one  part  of  my  conduct  of  which  I 
have  much  reason  to  be  ashamed ;  I  refer  to  that  which 
respects  my  Creator.  With  all  the  means  put  into  my 
hands  of  obtaining  divine  wisdom  and  growth  in  grace, 
I  have  been  slow  to  learn,  extremely  slow  in  my  pro- 
gress in  the  path  of  life.  I  have  been  too  much  de- 
lighted with  the  praise  of  men,  labored  too  much  to 
commend  myself  to  those  who  are  far  from  righteous- 
ness. My  works  testify  that  I  have  lived  unto  myself 
and  not  unto  God.  Accordingly  the  bands  of  iniquity 
have  become  strong  around  me.  O  Lord  !  I  am  un- 
done, but  in  thee  is  my  help  found.  By  the  assistance 
of  divine  grace,  I  have  resolved  to  amend  my  life,  by 
forsaking  my  sins  and  devoting  myself  anew  and  en- 
tirely to  the  service  of  Jehovah.  The  Lord  prosper 
this  resolution." 

"While  at  Durham,  among  the  friends  of  his  youth, 
and  called  frequently  to  take  an  active  part  in  their 
religious  meetings,  he  finds  himself  too  anxious  to 
please,  and  to  know  what  might  be  said  of  his  perform- 
ances. This  leads  him  to  condemn  himself,  October 
Slst,  in  the  following  manner  : 

"  Inquiries  into  the  religious  state  of  my  soul  convict 
me  of  great  indifference  to  my  immortal  interests,  of 
neglect  of  prayer  and  sincere  lamentation  for  all  my 
numerous  sins,  and  of  an  overweening  attachment  to 
the  vanities  of  this  wicked  world.    Yea,  I  fear  this  at- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  125 

tachment,  already  displeasing  to  God,  is  becoming  still 
more  excessive.  Do  I  not  actually  perceive  this  in  my 
increasing  solicitude  for  the  approbation  and  praise  of 
men  ?  Are  not  the  religious  duties  I  perform  in  public, 
especially  when  called  upon  to  lead  in  them,  a  swift 
"witness  against  me  ?  Oh  !  how  shall  I  answer  for  my 
roving  thoughts,  my  respect  for  the  good  opinion  of  the 
individuals  present,  the  pride  which  sometimes  rises,  in 
view  of  more  than  commonly  good  performances,  when 
even  that  goodness  consists  rather  in  apt  expressions 
and  pertinent  thoughts,  than  near  approach  to  the 
throne  of  grace ;  and  the  mortification  which,  at  others, 
succeeds  to  those  more  evidently  indifferent  and  de- 
fective V 

In  the  seminary,  he  finds  himself  troubled  with  the 
besettinor  sin  of  theolog^ical  students  : — "  There  is  no- 
thing,"  he  remarks,  JYovember  27th,  "  more  foolish, 
and  few  things  more  dangerous  to  immortal  souls,  than 
the  habitual  indulgence  of  a  criticising  spirit,  in  the 
worship  of  God  in  his  sanctuary.  Preachers  of  the 
gospel  must  use  their  own  manner. — Their  message  is 
from  God,  and  with  this  we  miserable  sinners  are  prin- 
cipally concerned.  To  stand  admiring,  or  despising,  the 
manner  of  the  preacher,  when  we  should  be  listening 
to  the  voice  of  God,  speaking  through  him,  is  sottish 
indeed.  What!  shall  I  find  fault  with  the  uncouth 
appearance  of  one  who  informs  me  that  my  house  is  on 
fire  ?  When  my  friend  calls  me  to  a  feast,  shall  I 
remember  only  the  plate  on  which  it  is  served  up  ? 
Such  a  disposition  would  have  turned  my  face  from 
Paul,  who  did  not  use  *  excellency  of  speech'  in 
preaching  the  gospel, — yes,  from  the  Lord  Jesus  him- 
self. 


126  MEMOIR    OF 

"  Blessed  Redeemer !  in  this  thing  I  have  sinned ; 
and  since  the  meditations  and  examination  of  this  after- 
noon have  convinced  me  of  it,  be  graciously  pleased  to 
make  me  humble  and  penitent  before  thee,  and  to  be- 
stow thy  forgiveness,  and  a  heart  to  refrain  from  this 
sin  in  future.  May  I  ever  be  willing  to  sit  at  thy  feet 
and  learn  of  thee,  whatever  means  of  instruction  thou 
mayest  see  fit  to  employ." 

Placed  again  among  his  equals,  or  fellow-students,  he 
finds  an  old  trouble  renewed  : — "  Ambition  appears  to 
be,  at  present,  my  ruling  sin.  Alas  !  there  is  ever  some- 
thing to  draw  my  inconstant  heart  from  God."  Is  not 
this  the  experience  of  all  the  saints  ?  Do  they  not  find 
it  necessary  to  watch  and  pray  without  ceasing,  lest  they 
fall  into  temptation  ?  Is  there  ever  a  time  when  they 
fancy  themselves  secure,  that  is  not  soon  followed  by  a 
season  of  lamentation,  on  account  of  some  surprise  from 
an  unthought-of  source  1  "  Let  him  that  thinketh  he 
standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall." 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1815,  he  bears 
witness  to  the  goodness  of  God  in  the  following  record  : 
— "  I  have  had  during  the  past  year  great  occasion  to 
bless  God  for  his  mercies.  Sickness  I  have  not  known. 
My  lawful  undertakings  have  succeeded  beyond  my 
expectation ;  and  I  am  finally  brought  to  this  sacred 
institution,  where  I  have  a  prospect  of  completing  my 
studies,  preparatory  to  my  entering  on  the  work  of  the 
gospel-ministry.  I  would  that  I  could  say,  *My  returns 
of  gratitude  have  been  proportionate : — I  have  spent  the 
time  and  improved  the  talents  allowed  me  in  the  best 
manner.'  But  alas  !  my  conscience  tells  me — the  state 
of  my  heart  tells  me,  it  is  not  so.  At  the  end  of  another 
year,  I  find  myself  cast  entirely  on  the  mercy  of  God. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  127 

If  I  am  not  condemned  to  the  lowest  hell,  it  will  not  be 
in  consequence  of  my  deserts ;— to  the  praise  of  sove- 
reign grace  it  shall  be  attributed." 

His  ardent  desire  to  be  supremely  devoted  to  his 
Savior  has  already  been  made  sufficiently  evident.  He 
cannot  stop  short  of  the  very  highest  attainments  of 
grace.  The  example  of  others  whose  life  had  adorned 
their  profession  serves  greatly  to  stimulate  him. — "  Am 
greatly  pleased,"  he  remarks,  January  29th,  "  with  the 
memoirs  of  Rev.  Samuel  Pearce,  a  minister  of  Birmin^- 
ham,  England.  My  heart  says  that  it  would  be 
pleasant  to  imitate  his  love  and  zeal.  It  would  be  good 
to  be  such  a  Christian  as  Samuel  Pearce.  And  what 
hinders  ? — My  soul !  what  hinders  ?  Have  not  I  the 
same  Savior  1  the  same  God  ?  His  Bible  is  my  Bible. 
I  may  live  as  near  the  throne  of  grace  as  he.  I  may 
as  sweetly  chant  the  praises  of  God.  What  then  hinders 
my  becoming  as  eminent  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ  ? 
Blessed  Redeemer !  help  me.  I  have  crept  long  enough, 
when  I  should  walk  upright.  I  have  long  enough  bent 
under  the  load  of  my  sins.  My  lusts,  my  worldly  joys 
and  prospects,  I  renounce.  Show  me  my  duty.  Point 
me  to  the  path  of  freedom  from  the  slavery  of  sin,  and 
wash  my  soul  in  the  atoning  blood  which  thou  didst 
shed  for  the  sins  of  the  world.  I  plead  with  thee,  and 
cannot  let  thee  go  without  a  blessing." 

Again  he  says, — "  The  idea  of  one  day  joining  with 
such  spirits  as  Samuel  Pearce  transports  me  with  joy. 
Oh  that  I  could  live  like  that  holy  servant  of  God  ! 
Blessed  Redeemer !  help  me.  I  would  burst  asunder 
the  chains  which  have  so  long  held  me  in  captivity  to 
this  world ;  I  would  soar  to  brighter  worlds,  to  more 
heavenly  enjoyments." 


128  MEMOIR    OF 

So,  too,  after  a  season  of  darkness,  he  cries  out,  Feb. 
13th  : — "  0  Divine  Immanuel !  thou  canst  bestow  all 
that  I  need.  I  come  to  thee.  Do  thou  lift  upon  me 
the  light  of  thy  countenance — satisfy  me  with  thy  love. 
Oh  !  remove  from  me  this  carnal,  unfeeling  heart.  I 
plead,  I  entreat.  I  would  be  like  thine  angels,  without 
spot  or  blemish. 

"  Never  have  I  before  seen  so  much  of  the  depths  of 
sin  within  me.  Shall  I  say  that  I  am  '  the  least  of  all 
saints  V — No,  that  will  not  do,  I  am  the  vilest  of  all 
sinners, — deserve  not  to  be  called  a  saint,  much  less  to 
enjoy  the  privileges  of  Christ's  saints." 

It  was  by  such  a  discipline  that  God  was  preparing 
him  for  that  diligent,  laborious,  self-denying  and  hum- 
ble ministry,  to  which  he  was  afterwards  called,  and 
in  which  he  continu'ed  with  so  much  patience  and 
success. 

As  one  who  deeply  felt  the  need  of  such  a  spirit  in 
order  to  enter  upon  such  a  w^ork,  he  proceeded  on  the 
18th  of  February  to  renew,  and  without  the  least  re- 
serve, the  consecration  of  himself  to  the  service  of  his 
Lord  and  Master.  After  reciting  some  of  the  obliga- 
tions which  bound  him  thus  to  present  himself  to  the 
Lord,  he  adds  *. 

"  By  every  consideration  then  am  I  bound  to  conse- 
crate myself  to  God ;  and  this  Inow  do  ;  acknowledging 
that  I  owe  all  to  him,  and  solemnly  promising,  by  divine 
grace,  to  use  the  things  of  this  world,  my  time,  my 
talents,  as  the  property  of  God.  I  also  promise,  that  if 
God  should  ever  see  fit  to  honor  me  v/ith  the  sacred 
office  of  the  gospel  ministry,  that  I  will  hold  myself 
ready  to  labor  in  any  part  of  his  vineyard,  to  which  his 
providence  shall  appear  to  direct  me ; — that,  neglecting 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  129 

to  confer  '  with  flesh  and  blood,'  I  will  count  it  nfiy  joy 
and  honor  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  promoting  his  king- 
dom and  glory  in  the  world.  This  I  promise,  relying 
on  his  grace  to  enable  me  to  be  constant  and  faithful, 
till  my  Lord  shall  please  to  remove  me  from  this  world 
of  sin  and  sorrow,  where  I  shall  serve  him  with  never- 
ending  and  increasing  joy." 

Mr.  Baldwin's  room-mate,  it  appears,  was  not  a  pro- 
fessing Christian.  The  conversion  of  this  friend  he 
ardently  sought.  On  the  2bth  of  Feb.  he  thus  records 
the  mercy  of  the  Lord  : 

"  I  have,  for  some  time,  been  very  desirous  that  my 
room-mate,  who  came  hither  '  having  no  hope  and 
without  God  in  the  world,'  should  have  his  eyes  opened 
to  see  the  misery  of  his  situation,  and  embrace  the  Lord 
Jesus  in  truth.  To  promote  this  great  object,  a  prayer 
meeting  of  a  few  individuals  was  organized  about  seven 
or  eight  weeks  ago.  And,  blessed  be  God  !  last  w^eek 
this  dear  individual  began  to  be  concerned  for  his  sal- 
vation ;  his  sins  rose  in  order  before  him  and  told  him 
that  God  was  to  the  impenitent '  a  consuming  fire  ;'  that 
he  himself  was  tottering  over  a  tremendous  precipice. 
Strong  convictions  immediately  followed.  He  saw 
himself  poor  and  wretched,  blind  and  naked,  and  in 
want  of  all  things.  In  this  state,  his  heart  rose  against 
God ;  he  loathed  his  service,  and  yet  saw  himself  in 
infinite  need  of  divine  mercy.  His  convictions  and  dis- 
tress gradually  increased  till  the  last  evening,  when  an 
alteration  was  visible,  though,  I  fear,  not  of  an  evan- 
gelical nature.     God  be  merciful  to  hira. 

"  During  the  past  week  I  have  thought  little  respect- 
ing myself;  almost  the  whole  of  my  anxiety  has  rested 
on  my  room-mate  and  others  of  my  class,  apparently  in 
6* 


130  MEMOIR    OF 

the  sarae  deplorable  situation ;  and  yet  my  heart  has 
been  several  times  laid  open  to  me  in  no  ordinary  man- 
ner. I  have  seen  myself  a  miserable,  unfaithful,  proud 
creature  ;  entirely  unworthy  and  unqualified  to  have  any 
part  in  the  good  work  which  God  is  evidently  carrying 
on  in  this  seminary.  Yet  I  have  delighted  in  prayer. 
I  have  felt  an  uncommonly  ardent  desire  that  God  would 
have  mercy  on  the  unregenerated  members  of  my  class ; 
and  that  he  w^ould  pour  out  upon  the  whole  seminary 
a  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication. 

"  There  appears  to  be  a  w'ork  of  grace  commencing 
in  the  seminary.  Christians  are  much  awakened,  and 
some  of  them  not  a  little  animated  in  view  of  what 
God  is  doing  for  immortal  souls.  Others  are  trembling 
in  view  of  the  wickedness  of  their  hearts,  and  the 
possibility  of  their  having  deceived  themselves  with 
respect  to  their  interest  in  Jesus  Christ.  Prayer-meet- 
ings are  becoming  frequent  in  different  parts  of  the 
building.  All  this  is  of  God,  and  '  marvellous  in  our 
eyes.'  Oh  !  may  he  carry  it  on  and  have  all  the 
glory." 

He  proceeds  wnth  this  interesting  case  on  March  6th. 
— ^"  The  change  in  my  room-mate's  feelings  turned  out, 
as  I  expected,  to  be  only  a  temporary  relief  from  his 
sufferings.  He  enjoyed  a  kind  of  sluggish,  careless 
ease  of  mind  during  the  Lord's  day  ;  but,  God  be 
praised !  his  convictions  returned  the  following  Mon- 
day, and  have  continued,  with  little  intermission,  till 
now.  On  Monday  he  was  much  affected  w^ith  the 
opposition  of  his  heart  to  God.  He  saw  distinctly  that, 
were  he  in  heaven,  he  could  not  find  there,  in  God  him- 
self, the  multitude  of  his  holy  creatures,  or  their  holy 
employment  of  worship  and  praise,  any  thing  in  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  131 

least  delightful  to  him.  Wednesday  he  seemed  for  a 
short  time  to  lose  his  anxiety  ;  it  however  returned  the 
day  after  with  augmented  force,  and  with  somewhat  of 
a  new  character.  What  most  affected  him  then  was 
the  extreme  WTetchedness  of  an  unrenewed  sinner.  '  I 
must  obtain  salvation'  was  then  and  has  continued  to 
be  the  tenor  of  his  conversation  on  this  interesting  sub- 
ject. From  appearances  I  cannot  but  hope  that  God 
will  shortly  appear  for  his  relief.  I  see  that  it  is  all 
God's  work.  I  pray,  advise,  and  exhort,  but  appear  to 
effect  nothing. 

"  During  the  past  week,  the  seriousness  in  college 
has  considerably  increased.  We  had  our  college-fast 
on  Friday  ;  and  many  found  it  a  precious  day  to  their 
souls.  Never  did  I  witness  more  apparent  solemnity  in 
the  people  of  God,  nor  attend  more  interesting  meetings 
than  some  that  we  then  enjoyed.  Dr.  Woods  preached 
to  us  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  from  Rev.  3 :  17,  18,  and 
had  a  most  solemn  audience.  God  is  certainly  doing 
much  for  us  '  whereof  w^e  are  glad.'  It  is  pleasing  to 
observe  what  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love  and  confidence 
appears  to  be  lighted  up  among  us.  We  fall  into  con- 
versation on  experimental  religion,  the  glories  of  the 
gospel,  and  the  blessed  portions  of  the  saints,  almost  as 
naturally  as  we  breathe.  Humility  is  promoted.  Each 
esteems  another  better  than  himself. 

"  Brother  Caldwell  still  continues  pressed  with  the 
load  of  his  sins,  and  not  able  to  look  to  Jesus  for  com- 
fort. Blessed  Savior !  this  is  all  his  fault. — Thou  hast 
made  abundant  provision  for  sinners.  If  they  reject 
thee  and  thy  gospel,  it  is  but  right  that  they  should  be 
suffered  to  reap  the  bitter  fruits  of  their  folly. — Brother 
Fisher  is  more  than  ordinarily  serious.     Several  pro- 


132  MEMOIR   OF 

fessors  of  religion  are  trembling,  and  one  or  two  have 
found  comfort  in  a  renewed  dedication  of  themselves  to 
God,  and  in  the  blessed  light  of  his  countenance. 

"  My  experience  during  the  week  has  been  checker- 
ed, or  rather  I  should  say  spotted,  with  sin  and  misery. 
I  have  not  felt  that  enlargement  in  prayer  which  some 
of  my  brethren  speak  of;  and  I  have  moreover  been 
left  of  God  to  indulge  much  spiritual  pride,  and  to  waste 
a  considerable  portion  of  my  precious  time.  I  find 
myself  necessitated  to  cry  out,  '  God !  be  merciful  to 
me  a  sinner.'  Here  is  all  my  comfort  and  hope: — 
*  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners;'  and  though 
I  be  the  vilest  of  all,  I  find  in  myself  a  disposition  to 
trust  in  the  riches  of  free,  sovereign  grace.  God  may 
do  with  me  as  he  pleases ;  I  have  no  will  of  my  own. 

"  God  is,  at  the  present  time,  carrying  on  a  glorious 
work  of  grace  in  Princeton-College.  About  forty 
students  are  already  reported  to  have  found  comfort  in 
behevinor ;  and  the  work  still  progresses.  May  the 
Lord  carry  it  on,  and  get  to  himself  abundant  honor." 
One  week  later  he  writes  despondingly : — "  The  con- 
victions of  my  room-mate  still  continue,  but  I  fear  with 
some  abatement  since  last  week.  I  exceedingly  fear 
that  he  will  be  left  to  neglect  this  precious  opportunity 
of  turning  to  God.  His  mind  is  much  on  trifles,  run- 
ning after  false  comfort,  and  finding  out  false  ways  of 
coming  to  Christ.  The  language  of  his  conduct  appears 
to  be  '  any  thing  but  repentance.  Give  me  any  work  to 
perform,  any  hardship  to  endure,  any  danger  to  en- 
counter, and  I  will  never  flinch.  But  repentance.  Oh  ! 
repentance  is  the  thing  I  abhor.'  Such  is,  indeed,  the 
language  of  every  unrenewed  heart,  in  view  of  '  the 
lessons  of  the  Lord.'— Such  were  mine.     Wonderful, 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  133 

truly,  is  the  grace  that  enables  me  to  rest  on  Jesus,  if 
indeed  I  do  rest  there.  Should  I  ever  reach  heaven, 
the  universe  will  have  in  me  a  specimen  of  what  al- 
mighty grace  can  do." 

His  views  respecting  the  missionary  work  may  be 
gathered  from  what  he  says  of  himself,  March  19th : — 
"  It  does  seem  to  me  that  I  love  a  sovereign  God,  and 
yet  I  know  not  how  it  would  affect  me  to  receive  a 
message  from  him  to  devote  myself  to  the  most  difficult 
and  unpleasant  calling  in  his  service.  A  missionary  is 
wanted  among  a  tribe  of  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations. 
Suppose  that  the  application  were  made  to  me.  The 
first  inquiry  ought  surely  to  be.  Am  I  a  fit  person  for  the 
station  proposed  ?  My  friends  might  possibly  answer 
the  question  in  the  affirmative.  Should  I  be  satisfied 
with  their  decision  ?  Would  it  not  go  against  all  my 
feelings,  all  my  fondest  anticipations  ?  Should  I  not, 
like  Jonah,  hasten  to  flee  from  the  face  of  the  Lord, 
preferring  ease  and  worldly  prosperity  to  such  painful 
and  unpopular  exertions  for  God  1  These  are  questions 
of  serious  import,  questions  which  my  heart  appears 
but  too  loth  to  answer  at  all.  O  Lord !  prepare  me 
for  thy  whole  pleasure.  Give  me  that  unreserved  sub- 
mission to  thy  will  which  characterized  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which  dwelt  richly  in  his  apostles,  and  which 
must,  in  all  ages,  distinguish  them  who  love  thee  in 
deed  and  in  truth,  from  such  as  say  unto  thee  '  Lord, 
Lord !'  but  do  not  the  things  which  thou  hast  com- 
manded. Oh !  suffer  me  not  sinfully  to  contract  my 
desires  after  usefulness  in  the  station  that  thou  hast 
allotted  me  ;  but  may  my  whole  soul  be  engaged  in 
thy  service." 

The  following  letter  to  his  brother,  dated  ,^pril  bth. 


134  MEMOIR    OF 

was  in  reply  to  one  announcing  the  intention  of  their 
parents  shortly  to  remove  to  the  state  of  Ohio : — "  I  had 
written  a  letter  to  father,  and  sealed  it,  when  yours 
came  to  hand  ;  detailing  what  I  did  not  much  expect  to 
hear.  My  resolution  was  instantly  formed.  God  per- 
mitting, you  shall  see  me  the  next  vacation.  It  com- 
mences in  four  and  a  half  weeks.  There  will  be  no 
need  of  your  sending  me  the  money  requested,  as  I 
can  probably  succeed  in  borrowing  what  will  be  neces- 
sary for  the  journey.  My  health  continues  to  be  good, 
and  my  eyes  are  quite  well ;  I  need  not  repeat  what  I 
have  so  often  said,  that  I  am  pleased  with  my  situation. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say  about  the  policy  of  your  re- 
moval to  Ohio.  You  have  undoubtedly  done  what  you 
thought  best.  God  is  everywhere.  He  can  bless  us 
in  all  situations  and  circumstances ;  without  his  bless- 
ing, all  our  efforts  will  prove  abortive,  if  not  destructive. 

"  We  have  much  religious  intelligence  of  an  interest- 
ing nature  :  but  as  I  hope  to  see  you  soon,  I  shall  not 
now  go  into  particulars.  All  however  agree  that  the 
interests  of  Zion  prosper.  So  many  and  extensive  re- 
vivals of  religion  were  never  known,  in  this  country, 
before." 

The  work  of  the  ministry  evidently  gains  upon  his 
affections.  As  he  advances  in  his  studies  he  longs  more 
to  be  a  holy  and  useful  minister  of  the  gospel. — "  Last 
evening,"  he  says,  March  26th,  "  I  commenced  reading 
the  Life  of  Spencer,  and  must  truly  say  I  am  astonished 
at  the  representations  given  by  his  biographer  of  his 
superior  endowments  of  mind  ;  particularly  do  I  admire 
the  early  graces  of  his  soul.  A  lad  of  fifteen  writes 
better  on  the  interesting  subject  of  experimental  re- 
ligion, says  wiser  things  respecting  the  proper  qualifica- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  135 

tions  of  a  gospel-minister  and  the  best  way  of  obtaining 
them,  than  the  oldest  and  wisest  Christians.  What 
cannot  grace  do  1    Surely  this  is  the  principal   thing. 

0  blessed  Redeemer !  give  me  grace.  Shed  abroad 
thy  love  in  my  heart,  and  I  will  not  fear  to  encounter 
any  difficulties  in  thy  service.  Give  rae  grace,  and  I 
will  be  another  Spencer, — not  indeed  in  talents,  but  in 
humility  and  zeal  for  thy  service." 

Again  he  remarks,  April  16ih. — ^'  Never  before  have 

1  experienced  greater  desires  to  devote  my  whole  self 
to  him,  or  more  pleasure,  in  prospect  of  hereafter  be- 
coming a  minister  of  the  gospel.  True  I  am  weak, 
ignorant,  and  unworthy,  and  the  responsibility  is  ap- 
palling. But  there  is  an  almighty,  merciful,  covenant- 
keeping  Savior ;  and  he  has  promised  to  be  with  his 
faithful  servants  *  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.'  Here 
can  I  rest  the  matter.  Blessed  Jesus!  send  me  thy 
Spirit,  give  me  grace,  and  I  shall  not  fear  to  undertake 
any  thing  in  thy  service." 

No  intelligence  appears  to  have  pleased  him  so  much 
as  the  tidings  of  the  spread  of  the  gospel.  He  rejoiced 
greatly  to  hear  that  God  was  pouring  out  his  Spirit 
anywhere,  and  greatly  longed  to  share  in  such  bless- 
ings.— "  Letters  from  Yale-College,"  he  says,  "  bring 
us  the  most  gratifying  intelligence.  God  has  com- 
menced a  most  interesting  and  powerful  work  of  grace 
in  that  seminary.  It  is  of  recent  standing,  but  already 
general.  Convictions  succeed  each  other  with  great 
rapidity.  As  many  as  forty  precious  youth  are  rejoicing 
in  their  escape  from  the  thraldom  of  sin  and  Satan  into 
the  glorious  liberty  of  saints.  The  church  is  active. 
Ministers  are  lending  their  assistance,  and  the  whole 
appearance  seems  to  promise  a  great  ingathering  of 


136  MEMOIR    OF 

souls  to  Jesus.  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  thus  remem- 
bers and  answers  the  desh'es  and  prayers  of  his  people; 
who  thus  raises  up  able  and  faithful  ministers  of  the 
New  Testament,  to  break  unto  his  chosen  people  the 
bread  of  life !  May  this  great  work  go  on  and 
prosper." 

He  passed  a  portion  of  the  ensuing  summer  at  Frank- 
lin, Mass.,  "  where,"  he  says,  "  God  raised  up  friends 
for  me,  and  thus  rendered  my  situation  quite  pleasant, 
and  I  trust  not  entirely  unprofitable  to  me.  I  became 
acquainted  with  Dr.  Emmons,  from  whom  I  received 
some  assistance."  The  influence  of  the  instructions  of 
this  venerable  man,  who  preceded  him  only  a  few  wrecks 
into  the  world  of  spirits,  may  be  seen  in  the  record  that 
he  makes,  after  his  return,  of  the  state  of  his  heart.  "  I 
am,  if  a  Christian,  a  weak  and  ungrateful  one.  This  I 
will  testify  against  myself;  I  should  be  willing  to  have 
it  known  to  the  universe,  would  such  knowledge  pro- 
mote the  glory  of  God.  Such,  I  think,  is  my  state  of 
rehgious  feehng  at  the  present  moment;  therefore  I 
have  little  fear  of  hell.  Sin,  not  destruction,  makes  me 
lament.  It  appears  to  me  that  I  should  be  willing  to 
die  to  be  freed  from  sin.  And  yet  I  am  continually 
practising  it. — How  inconsistent !  Blessed  God  !  grace 
must  do  all — I  rest  upon  grace,  grace  alone." 

How  much  he  deprecated  a  continuance  in  the  w^ays 
of  folly,  or  even  in  coldness  of  the  heart  towards  God, 
may  be  seen  from  what  he  says  July  16th  : — "  To  think 
of  living,  after  this,  as  I  have  done  in  times  past,  so  far 
from  God,  so  in  love  with  the  world,  so  fearful  of  its 
frowns,  so  much  elated  by  its  smiles,  is  indeed  painful ; 
it  is  more  than  I  can  endure.   It  appears  to  me  that  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  137 

annunciation  of  my  speedy  departure  out  of  life  would 
be  infinitely  more  tolerable." 

He  evidently  derives  great  profit  from  the  memoirs 
of  God's  dear  servants,  and  delights  in  those  most  who 
most  resembled  their  Lord. 

"  Aug.  6th. — Have  been  giving  some  attention  to 
the  Life  of  Winter.  The  character  of  that  man  of  God, 
as  drawn  by  the  Rev.  William  Jay,  is  equalled  by  few, 
excelled  by  almost  none.  Particularly,  I  would  notice, 
the  constancy  of  his  Christian  love,  exertion,  and  hope. 
To  labor  for  God  was  his  meat  and  drink.  The  state 
of  mind  which  w^ould  be  regarded  as  religious  ecstasy, 
was  with  hira  a  permanent  habit.  His  deadness  to  the 
world  was  most  remarkable,  as  was  likewise  his  dis- 
interestedness and  humility.  And  then  his  charity  ! — 
Alas !  how  little  my  feelings  and  conduct  correspond  with 
those  of  Winter !  Yet  I  have  more  advantages  for 
usefulness.  Do  thou  renovate  and  influence  all  iny 
affections  in  such  a  manner,  that  like  Winter  I  may 
cheerfully  devote  all  my  powers  of  body  and  mind  to 
thy  service.  In  due  time,  abundantly  qualify  me  for 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel ;  or,  if  that  be  not  thy 
pleasure,  prepare  me  to  serve  thee  in  some  other 
capacity.  I  would  be  diligent  and  faithful  in  thy  ser- 
vice, till  thou  shalt  call  me  to  a  world  w^here  sorrow, 
temptation,  and  sin  shall  have  no  place ;  where  instead 
of  the  imperfect  services  that  I  now  yield  thee,  I  shall 
present  to  thee  a  pure  and  acceptable  sacrifice.  Oh, 
come  that  joyful  day  !" 

On  completing  his  first  year  in  the  seminary  he  en- 
deavors, like  a  prudent  man,  to  cast  up  and  settle  his 
accounts.  As  usual  he  finds  no  satisfaction  in  his 
spiritual  attainments.     His  w^orldliness  he  attributes  to 


138  MEMOIR    OF 

his  "  neglect  of  frequent  meditation  on  the  character 
and  operations  of  God.' '  "  Regeneration,"  he  remarks, 
"  does  not,  it  is  true,  necessarily  diffuse  an  equable  or 
great  degree  of  warmth  through  the  heart,  but  it  does 
kindle  an  inextinguishable  fire.  There  is  ever  some- 
thing in  the  Christian  congenial  to  heavenly  employ- 
ments. At  times  he  pants  for  the  celestial  regions ;  his 
soul  says  to  God,  '  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ? 
and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  besides  thee.' 
How  happy  is  that  man,  whose  state  of  mind  is  habit- 
ually thus  !  Give  me  his  consolations,  his  joys,  and 
princes  may  take  the  honors  and  pleasures  of  this  world 
to  themselves.  They  are  welcome,  thrice  welcome  to 
all,  and  to  ten  thousand  times  more,  if  they  can  obtain 
it 

•  The  Lord  my  shepherd  is, 
I  shall  be  well  supplied  ; 
Since  he  is  mine  and  I  am  his, 
What  can  I  want  beside  ?' 

Nothing,  blessed  Jesus!  I  want  nothing  more." 

Of  an  afternoon-visit  which  he  made,  the  next  day, 
to  a  Christian  family  in  the  vicinity,  he  says, — "  Seldom 
have  I  been  more  pleased  or  profited  by  an  afternoon's 
conversation.  Religion  was  almost  tJie  only  subject, 
and  evidently  the  favorite  one."  How  truly  the  Chris- 
tian may  be  known  by  the  objects  of  his  delight ! 

The  ensuing  vacation  was  passed  in  pleasant  and 
profitable  recreation,  for  the  most  part  at  Franklin, 
jNIass.  It  was,  as  he  describes  it,  "  unusually  pleasant. 
I  went  first  to  Franklin,  where  I  employed  myself  some 
time  in  preparing  a  Tract  on  "  Fashionable  Amuse- 
ments." IMr.  Fisher  and  family  received  me  with  much 
kindness.  I  am  much  indebted  to  the  liberal  hospitality 
of  that  interesting  house. 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  139 

"  During  my  former  residence  in  Franklin,  I  had 
conversed  with  several  individuals  on  the  importance 
of  embracing  the  gospel.  One,  who  overheard  some 
such  observations  to  her  husband,  was  pricked  at  the 
heart.  I  found  her  now  in  the  greatest  distress,  and  so 
left  her.  May  the  God  of  all  grace  have  compassion 
on  her  immortal  soul !  The  few  exertions,  which  my 
situation  allowed  me  to  make  in  favor  of  religion,  ap- 
peared to  be  crowned  with  some  success.  But  while 
I  regard  this  as  encouragement  to  faithfulness  in  the 
divine  service,  it  most  certainly  stands  me  in  hand  to 
beware  of  self-dependence,  of  every  thing  which  looks 
like  boasting. 

"The  appointment  of  brother  Fisher  (Alexander 
M.)*  to  a  tutorship  in  Yale  College,  called  him  to  Con- 
necticut, and  I  accompanied  him.  We  started  three 
weeks  after  the  commencement  of  vacation,  and  reach- 
ed New  Haven  on  Friday ;  where  I  spent  a  single 
night,  and  then  proceeded  to  Fairfield.  I  was  received 
by  my  friends  and  former  pupils  there,  in  the  most  cor- 
dial manner.  The  work  of  grace,  which  began  there 
the  last  spring,  has  been  interesting  and  extensive. 
About  fifty  give  evidence  of  a  gracious  ch'ange  in  their 
hearts.  Twenty-four  were  propounded  for  admission  to 
the  church,  the  Sabbath  that  I  tarried  with  them. 
Several  of  these  were  my  former  pupils.     I  conversed 

*  Mr.  Fisher  was  a  native  of  Franklin,  and  it  was  at  his 
father's  house  that  Mr.  B.  had  been  so  hospitably  entertained. 
They  were  class-mates  both  at  college  and  the  seminary.  Mr. 
Fisher  was  elected  Professor  of  mathematics  and  natural  phi- 
losophy, in  Yale-College,  in  1817,  was  esteemed  as  a  man  of 
superior  talents,  and  perished  by  the  shipwreck  of  the  Albion 
on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  April  22d,  1S22.  His  loss  was  deeply 
deplored. 


140  MEMOIR   OF 

with  most  of  them  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  found 
good  reason  to  praise  God  in  their  behalf.  After  five 
days  most  agreeably  spent  at  Fairfield,  I  set  off  on  my 
return  to  Franklin. 

"  Durham  lay  in  my  way.  I  spent  the  succeeding 
Sabbath  with  my  relations,  and  found  them  much  en- 
gaged in  the  best  of  causes.  Religion  flourishes  in 
Durham.  About  twenty-five  persons  have  apparently 
changed  their  character,  during  the  past  summer,  and 
many  more  are  inquiring,  *  Men  and  brethren  what  shall 
we  do?' 

"  From  Durham  I  returned  to  Franklin,  by  the  way 
of  Hartford.  The  remainder  of  my  vacation,  which 
was  less  than  a  week,  I  spent  there.  Nothing  remark- 
able occurred  during  the  rest  of  my  journey,  unless  I 
except  my  base  forgetfulness  of  God,  by  the  way. 
Blessed  God !  how  ungrateful  am  I  for  all  thy  mercies. 
They  are  renewed  unto  me  every  moment.  I  cannot 
live  without  thy  support,  and  yet  I  forget  thee.  Thou 
hast  sent  thy  beloved  Son  to  die  for  my  soul,  and  yet  I 
forget  thee.  Oh  !  suffer  it  to  be  so  no  longer.  '  Let 
my  right  hand  forget  her  cunning,'  rather  than  that  I 
should  forget  my  Redeemer  and  my  God." 

The  Tract,  of  which  he  speaks  above,  was  afterwards 
revised  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Woods  of  Andover,  and  pub- 
lished by  the  American  Tract  Society,  at  Boston,  as  No. 
73  of  their  publications.  On  the  formation  of  the 
American  Tract  Society  at  New- York,  it  was  adopted 
by  them,  and  may  be  found  in  the  third  of  their  volumes 
of  Tracts.  It  contains  twelve  pages,  and  presents  a  fair 
specimen  both  of  his  mode  of  reasoning,  and  of  his 
sentiments  in  relation  to  these  fruitful  sources  of  ruin. 
It  has  had  an  extensive  circulation,  and,  by  the  blessing 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  141 

of  God,  has  led  many  to  renounce  the  world  and  its 
vanities.  In  1828  a  clergyman  of  Kentucky  remarks, 
— "  I  handed  the  Tract,  on  Fashionable  Amusements,  to 
an  intelligent  and  fashionable  young  lady,  and  it  proved 
the  means,  in  the  providence  of  God,  of  her  awakening 
and  conversion." 

In  one  case  the  reading  of  this  Tract  by  an  indi- 
vidual resulted  in  a  revival  of  religion,  and  the  rescue  of 
a  feeble  church  from  destruction.  "  A  missionary, 
laboring  in  a  town  in  Vermont  where  religion  had 
greatly  declined,  gave  the  Tract  on  '^Fashionable 
Amusements'^^  to  a  young  lady,  just  as  she  was  pre- 
paring for  the  ball-room.  She  read  it  and  trembled, 
but  persisted  in  attending.  Her  gay  companions  saw, 
in  her  depressed  countenance,  that  her  heart  was  sad. 
They  wondered  and  reflected.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
was  there.  Her  conviction  of  sin  increased  till  she 
found  rest  in  Christ.  Others  became  alarmed  ;  a  re- 
vival of  religion  commenced,  and  thirty  persons  were 
hopefully  converted.  They  united  with  the  church, 
which  at  the  time  was  almost  extinct,  and  the  mission- 
ary then  among  them  was  settled  as  their  pastor." 

What  untold  blessings  may  have  followed  from  the 
reading  of  that  one  Tract,  not  only  in  these  two  cases, 
but  in  many  more  where  its  truths  have  been  lodged 
in  the  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost !  How  rich  the  reward 
to  him,  who  by  the  grace  of  God  is  enabled  to  prepare 
such  a  message  of  mercy,  and  send  it  forth  in  thousands 
and  tens  of  thousands  to  the  world  !  How  infinitely 
more  precious  is  such  an  unpretending  treatise  than  all 
the  pages  of  Bulwer,  Dickens,  or  even  Walter  Scott ! 
Of  an  almost  countless  multitude  it  may  be  said,  that 


142  MEMOIR   OF 


To  their  hut 


A  little  Tract,  a  messenger  of  love, 

A  herald  of  glad,  tidings,  found  its  way  : 

It  told  of  God,  the  Maker  ;  and  of  him 

Who  died  for  man's  salvation. 

They  vi'^ept  and  prayed,  and  mourned  a  wretched  life 

Of  constant  sin — and  gave  themselves  to  God." 

The  record  of  his  experience  during  the  second  year 
of  his  residence  at  Andover  is  very  similar  to  that  of 
the  first.  We  find  the  same  accusations  of  himself — 
the  same  aversion  to  sin — the  same  panting  to  be  de- 
livered from  its  power,  and  the  same  reliance  on  the 
blood  of  Jesus.  As  a  specimen  of  fidelity  to  himself  in 
self-examination  let  what  he  writes  on  the  last  day  of 
1815  be  read: 

"  Heard  a  sermon  this  morning  from  Mr.  Stuart,  on 
the  subject  of  self-examination.  The  principle  that  he 
assumes  is,  that  genuine  religion,  or  love  to  God,  will 
discover  itself  in  the  same  manner  as  love  to  an  earthly 
friend. 

"  1.  We  love  the  company  and  conversation  of  an 
earthly  friend. 

"  2.  We  esteem  his  associates  and  friends. 

"  3.  We  regret  his  absence  from  us. 

"  4.  We  are  pleased  with  hearing  any  thing  respect- 
ing his  welfare,  his  actions,  or  his  designs. 

"  5.  If  we  have  injured  this  friend,  we  are  careful  to 
make  restitution,  and  to  obtain  his  forgiveness. 

"  6.  If  this  friend  be  a  parent,  guardian,  or  magis- 
trate, we  are  careful  to  obey  his  precepts. 

"  The  application  of  these  observations  is,  indeed, 
extremely  obvious  ;  and,  for  any  thing  I  see  to  the  con- 
trary, may  prove  a  decisive  test  of  our  character.  How 


EEV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  143 

then  is  it  with  thee,  my  soul  ?  Do  I  love  the  presence 
and  converse  of  God  ?  Prayer  is,  literally  speaking, 
conversation  with  God.  It  does  appear  to  me,  that  I 
can  truly  say  I  have  found  it  occasionally,  at  least,  as 
pleasant  as  the  company  of  my  dearest  earthly  friend. 
And  if  I  am  acquainted  with  the  desires  of  my  own 
heart,  I  should  be  unwilling  to  live  without  praying  to 
God,  even  though  he  had  not  enjoined  it  on  me  as  a 
duty. 

"  Christians  esteem  the  friends  of  God.  Here,  again, 
it  appears  to  me  that  I  can  find  in  myself  some  faint 
evidence  of  genuine  piety.  If  I  am  not  greatly  deceived 
in  this  particular,  I  do  love  the  friends  of  God, — I  do 
esteem  their  society,  and  their  conversation,  in  some 
proportion  to  its  conformity  to  the  requisitions  of  the 
gospel. 

"  Christians  regret  the  absence  of  the  Divine  pre- 
sence. Here  I  am  greatly  deficient.  Yet  it  sometimes 
appears  to  me  as  if  I  could  say, '  Whom  have  I  in  hea- 
ven but  my  God  ?  and  there  is  none  on  earth  I  desire 
in  comparison  with  him.'  It  is  the  want  of  his  visible 
presence  which  makes  my  sacred  duties  a  weariness  to 
me.  And  I  think  I  can  truly  say,  that  I  am  never  happy 
in  a  backsliding  state.  The  world  has  never  yet  pre- 
sented me  with  any  thing  which  appeared  to  be  an 
equivalent  for  the  friendship  and  approbation  of  God. 

"  Christians  are  pleased  with  the  word  and  public 
worship  of  God ;  as  being  sources  from  which  they 
may  learn  his  character,  operations,  and  designs.  And 
is  not  my  mind,  at  times,  deeply  interested  with  the 
contents  of  the  sacred  volume,  and  with  the  ordinances 
of  the  gospel  1     But  here  I  must  acknowledge  a  great 


144  MEMOIR    OF 

and  alarming  deficiency.  Blessed  God !  I  can  plead 
only  for  mercy.   *  Pardon  mine  iniquity,  for  it  is  great.' 

"  Christians  are  anxious  to  obtain  forgiveness  of  their 
offences  against  God.  Restitution  they  are  unable  to 
make, — the  Law  condemns  every  transgressor.  But 
they  look  to  Jesus,  '  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world.'  Nor  do  they  wish  merely 
for  the  'pardon  of  sin ;  they  would  be  delivered  from  its 
power.  The  language  of  their  heart  is,  '  Let  me  not 
sin  against  my  God  and  wound  my  Savior  in  the  house 
of  his  friends  any  more.'  Oh !  let  me  be  humble  and 
holy,  that  I  may  glorify  my  Father,  who  is  in  heaven. 

"  Finally,  Christians  will  obey  God.  In  these  last 
two  particulars,  I  find  myself  exceedingly  deficient.  Yet 
I  cannot  say  that  my  experience  does  not  furnish  me 
w^ith  something  favorable  even  here.  Gracious  God  ! 
if  these  conclusions  are  false,  I  pray  thee,  discover  to 
me  their  falsehood.  I  would  not  deceive  my  own  soul. 
I  would  love  and  serve  thee  in  sincerity.  I  w^ould  be 
thine,  entirely  thine,  now  and  forever." 

On  the  occasion  of  the  college-fast,  in  March,  1816, 
he  is  deeply  affected  with  the  low  state  of  religion,  and 
thus  expresses  himself: — "  It  is  indeed  painful  to  con- 
trast the  state  of  things  a  year  ago  in  this  institution, 
with  the  present.  We  were,  at  that  time,  waiting  to 
see  the  conversion  of  our  inquiring  brethren.  My  room- 
mate was  particularly  anxious  for  his  soul.  But  all  is 
over.  He  is  now  a  worldling ;  pressing  forward  for 
the  acquisition  of  mere  human  science,  or  of  cold  un- 
practical theology,  with  scarcely  a  thought  of  death, 
judgment,  and  eternity.  O  thou  blessed  Savior  !  shall 
he  perish  ?  Forbid  it,  dear  Redeemer  !  I  go  to  thee  as 
the  last,  the  only  source  of  hope.    Oh  I  let  not  this  dear 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  145 

immortal  perish,  for  whom  so  many  prayers  have  been 
offered  up,  of  whom  so  much  hope  has  been  excited  in 
the  breasts  of  thy  children.  Let  not  Satan  and  wicked 
men  triumph  over  the  disappointment  of  those  who  put 
all  their  confidence  in  thee." 

In  May  he  again  visited  his  native  place,  and  was 
greatly  refreshed  by  sharing  with  Christians  of  that 
neighborhood  in  the  reviving  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  After  his  return,  and  through  the  summer  of 
1816,  he  had  many  precious  seasons,  of  which  he 
speaks  in  the  following  extracts  : 

June  30th. — "  Have  had,  since  the  last  Sabbath, 
several  interesting  religious  conversations  with  different 
brethren  of  the  institution  ;  and,  I  trust,  not  without 
benefit  to  my  own  soul.  It  is  delightful  to  anticipate, 
in  thought  and  conversation,  the  blessed  employments 
of  the  saints  in  light.  We  thus  begin  our  heaven  w^hile 
on  the  earth.  We  become  animated  w^ith  a  glimpse  ot 
that  glory  which  beams  on  the  celestial  inhabitants, 
and  are  warmed  by  a  spark  of  that  fire  which  inflames 
them." 

July  3d. — "  Have  had  some  pleasing  views  of  God 
and  the  blessed  state  of  his  children,  this  week,  which 
have  been  attended  by  an  increased  desire  to  live 
accordingly.  Oh  the  blessedness  of  that  man  who  lives 
habitually  above  the  world  !  Still  happier  is  he,  who, 
having  finished  a  life  of  holy  activity,  is  entering  the 
kingdom  of  his  heavenly  Father.  But  release  from  my 
work  I  must  not  expect  at  present,  I  must  not  desire  it 
inordinately.  God  has  placed  me  here  to  act  for  him. 
I  am  his  servant.  What  he  enjoins  I  must,  and,  by  his 
grace  assisting  me,  I  will  do,  constantly  and  cheerfully. 
Yes,  lovely  Jesus!  I  will  labor  for  thee.     But  my  own 

7 


146  MEMOIR    OF 

strength  is  nothing.  I  need  thy  presence,  thine  assist- 
ance, thy  blessing.  All  must  come  from  thee ;  and  thus 
all  the  glory  will  belong  to  thy  grace  ',  Amen,  and 
Amen." 

July  1th. — "  Began  the  last  week  with  fasting  and 
prayer.  I  enjoyed  much  satisfaction  in  religious  duties, 
and  was  enabled  to  keep  my  heart  with  some  diligence, 
during  the  first  part  of  it.  In  the  mean  time,  religious 
conversation  delighted  me.  I  felt  a  strong  desire  to 
live  near  to  God,  and  to  be  conformed  to  his  holy  im- 
age. The  thought  of  death  became  pleasant  to  me,  as  it 
would  remove  from  all  liability  to  offend  against  my 
God.  I  saw  sin  to  be  exceedingly  hateful,  and  on  this 
account,  more  than  from  the  fear  of  future  punishment, 
prayed  to  be  delivered  from  it.  Love  to  the  brethren 
and  compassion  for  immortal  souls  possessed  my  soul ; 
and  I  looked  forward  with  satisfaction  to  the  time  when 
I  shall  probably  be  more  active  in  the  service  of  Christ. 
How  heavenly,  rational,  and  pleasant  were  these  feel- 
ings !" 

"  Since  I  made  a  public  profession  of  religion, — in- 
deed, since  I  first  entertained  a  belief  of  my  conversion 
to  God, — the  ways  of  the  world  have  ceased  to  give  me 
even  tolerable  satisfaction.  I  cannot  five  for  any  length 
cf  time  very  far  from  God.  I  beheve  that  a  state  of 
separation  from  him,  and  such  a  sense  of  my  sin 
and  wretchedness  as  usually  attends  or  immediately 
follows  it,  would  break  down  my  spirits,  and  render  me 
either  a  maniac  or  an  incurable  invalid,  perhaps  both. 
Lord !  I  bless  thee  for  this  constitution  of  my  nature. 
It  keeps  me  from  many  sins,  and  prompts  me  to  many- 
duties. 

"  I  have  just  now  a  pleasing  sense  of  the  wisdom, 


REV.    DR.    BALD^^^N.  147 

justice,  and  benevolence  of  God.  It  appears  an  infinitely 
desirable  thing  to  leave  myself  and  mine  in  his  hands. 
There  is  no  reason  why  I  should  indulge  much  anxiety 
respecting  my  worldly  circumstances,  or  those  of  my 
absent  friends.  God  will  be  glorified  ; — that  should 
satisfy.  Jesus  Christ  will  be  honored  by  all ; — this 
should  raise  in  me  the  highest  emotions  of  joy." 

A  lovely  description,  and  a  rational  one,  of  his  Chris- 
tian assurance  is  subjoined : 

July  lAth. — "  I  have  seldom  been  greatly  distressed 
with  a  fear  of  being  finally  'a  cast-away.'  My  re- 
ligious distress  most  generally  arises  from  the  perception 
of  my  vile  ingratitude  to  God  for  all  his  goodness,  or 
from  that  of  my  worthlessness  as  a  creature  of  God. 
It  not  unfrequently  appears  to  me,  that  I  might  safely 
exchange  my  sins  with  any  man  in  the  world,  not  ex- 
cepting the  worst  public  criminals.  Yet  my  hope  of 
heaven  remains,  because  it  rests  not  on  what  I  do,  but 
on  what  Christ  has  done  for  me.  I  cannot  perish  with 
such  a  Savior.  No, — heaven  and  earth  shall  sooner 
pass  away. 

"  But  may  I  not  be  deceived  in  supposing  that  I 
have  an  interest  in  Christ  ?  It  is  at  least  possible.  And 
the  little  progress  I  make  in  the  divine  life,  the  power 
of  particular  sins  over  me,  particularly  the  partial 
manner  in  which  I  execute  my  resolutions  of  amend- 
ment, would  seem  to  render  it  probable.  But  then, 
again,  I  seem  to  be  assured  on  the  best  grounds  that  I 
love  God  and  his  Christ.  I  see  in  the  character  of  God 
something  so  exalted  and  yet  amiable,  something  in 
his  government  so  desirable,  that  I  w^illingly  adore  and 
love,  and,  as  it  seems  to  me,  give  myself  up  to  him.  I 
also  love  the  people  of  God,  and,  if  I  am  not  greatly 


/    148-  MEMOIR    OF 

mistaken,  in  proportion  as  they  are  conformed  to  his 
holy  image.  I  frequently  forget  my  own  interests.  It 
seems  to  satisfy  me,  that  I  am  always  with  God,  and 
shall  ever  be  wdth  him.  Were  God  to  hate  me,  say  I 
to  myself,  I  should  still  love  him.  For  I  see  nothing 
in  my  feelings  of  heart,  or  in  my  actions,  which  merits 
his  love.  I  am  an  unprofitable  servant,  though  I  serve 
a  good  Master.  My  baseness  has  been  peculiar,  and 
nothing  now  remains  for  me  to  do,  but  to  serve  this 
abused  Master  with  all  fidelity,  without  stipulating  for 
a  compensation.  Should  he  send  me  to  hell,  it  would 
be  just ;  should  he  admit  me  to  heaven,  it  w^ould  be 
wonderful  grace.  He  w^ill  not,  he  cannot,  from  his  na- 
ture, do  me  any  wrong,  and  this  ought  to  satisfy  me. 

"  But  am  I  not,  in  all  this,  placing  myself  under  law  1 
No  ; — I  view  God  through  the  medium  of  the  gospel. 
The  law  gives  me  no  hope,  as  a  means,  or  rather  as  a 
way  of  obtaining  life ;  but  as  a  rule  of  conduct,  it  does 
give  me  pleasure.  All  my  hope  is  in  Christ.  Still, 
there  is  so  much  of  justice  and  goodness  in  God,  that  I 
cannot  but  rejoice  in  all  his  dispensations,  in  those 
which  affect  myself  as  well  as  in  those  which  affect 
others.  On  this  ground,  I  cannot  be  over-anxious  to 
know  what  God  will  do  with  me  here  or  hereafter. 
The  Judge  of  all  the  earth  will  do  right, — he  will  do 
what  is  most  glorious  for  himself  and  beneficial  for  his 
kingdom.     What  more  can  I  ask  or  wish  for  ? 

"  But  may  not  impenitent  sinners  talk  in  the  same 
strain  ?  May  they  not  excuse  themselves  from  duty,  on 
the  ground  that  every  thing  they  do,  and  every  thing 
that  God  may  do  to  them  or  for  them,  will  promote  the 
greatest  general  good  ?  I  think  not,  with  the  feelings 
that  I  experience.    When  I  am  most  at  ease  respecting 


REV.   DR.   BALDWIN.  149 

the  manner  in  which  God  will  dispose  of  me  and  others, 
I  have  the  most  precious  views  of  his  glory,  and  the 
most  ardent  desire  to  promote  it.  When  heaven  seems 
nearest  and  most  certain,  the  world  seems  least  attrac- 
tive. The  more  God  does  for  me,  the  greater  appears 
my  obligations  to  keep  his  commandments.  The  good- 
ness of  God  does  not,  then,  become  the  certain  occasion 
of  sin,  though  I  often  abuse  it,  but  it  frequently  draws 
me  nearer  to  him,  and  stirs  me  up  to  greater  dihgence 
in  his  service. 

"  Of  what  then  should  I  be  afraid  1  Of  sin,  because 
it  is  hateful ; — of  losing  the  presence  of  God,  because 
through  his  assistance  alone  I  am  able  to  resist  and 
overcome  sin ; — of  his  anger,  for  who  can  sustain  the 
anger  of  one  he  loves  supremely  ?  But  the  particular 
manner  of  God's  disposing  of  me  in  this  world  or  the 
world  to  come,  ought  to  give  me  no  uneasiness.  Let 
me  serve  God,  not  for  hire.  Whatever  is  done  with 
me,  I  am  persuaded  that  the  love  of  God  will  never  be 
taken  from  my  soul  j  that  he  who  hath  begun  a  good 
work  in  me  will  carry  it  on  till  it  is  perfected." 

Having  heard  that  his  brother,  then  residing  in  Ohio, 
had  been  bereaved  of  a  beloved  child,  he  expresses  his 
sympathy,  Aug.  V^th,  in  the  following  tender  language  : 
— ^^  The  letter  containing  an  account  of  the  death  of 
your  little  son  has  reached  me.  This  affliction  was 
unexpected — it  is  severe.  What  shall  I  say  to  comfort 
you  ?  What  shall  I  do  to  heal  the  wound  which  this 
tearing  away  of  your  bone  and  your  flesh  has  made  ? 
Ah !  it  is  not  in  me  to  lift  up  whom  God  hath  cast 
down ;  to  heal  whom  he  hath  wounded.  I  cannot 
bring  Dorence  back  from  the  grave. — Sweet  child  ! — 
He  was  pleasant,  he  was  dear  to  me  j  how  pleasant 


150  MEMOIR    OF 

and  how  dear  must  he  than  have  been  to  you  !  Yes, 
you  prized  him  above  every  other  earthly  good.  You 
would  have  given  all  you  possess,  perhaps  your  own 
lives,  to  save  him  from  an  early  grave.  But  no  ;  his 
hour  was  come.  The  pleasing  object,  upon  whom  you 
set  your  hearts,  and  whom  you,  perhaps,  in  fancy,  saw 
rising  from  childhood  to  youth,  from  youth  to  manhood  ; 
— the  solace  of  your  afflictions,  the  sharer  of  your  labor, 
and  the  staff  of  your  old  age,  is  gone.  You  will  see 
him  no  more,  till  you  pass  into  the  world  of  spirits. 
So  pass  away  all  our  earthly  hopes  and  pleasures. 
*  Naked,'  said  Job, '  came  I  out  of  my  mother's  womb, 
naked  shall  I  return  thither.'  Oh  !  why  are  we  so  slow 
to  learn  the  vanity  of  worldly  objects  ?  Are  we  not 
strangers  and  pilgrims  here  below  1  Willing  or  un- 
willing, we  must  soon  leave  this  terrestrial  scene.  God 
will  not  ask  our  leave  to  remove  from  us  our  friends  and 
relations ;  he  will  not  consult  us  respecting  our  own 
departure.  Are  we  rich  to-day  ?  we  may  be  poor  to- 
morrow. Are  we  in  health  ?  sickness  and  death  may 
be  at  hand.  Have  we  acquired  much  influence  and 
worldly  honor?  of  these  also  God  may  deprive  us 
suddenly. 

"  But  I  w^ill  not  dwell  on  considerations  so  obvious. 
There  are  others  which,  as  a  faithful  and  affectionate 
brother,  I  wish  to  suggest.  The  affliction  which  God 
has  brought  upon  you  has  its  cause.  That  cause  may 
be  found  in  yourselves.  It  has  its  object ;  and  that  ob- 
ject must  be  particularly  interesting  to  you. 

"  I  do  not  suppose  that  God  measures  out  his  chas- 
tisements to  his  children,  exactly  according  to  their 
deserts.  This  is  a  world  of  probation,  not  of  retribu- 
tion.     Job  was  not  afflicted  because  he  had  sinned 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  151 

above  all  the  good  men  of  his  time.  No ; — he  was 
singularly  upright.  '  Hast  thou  considered  my  servant 
Job,'  said  Jehovah,  *  that  there  is  none  like  him  in  the 
earth,  a  perfect  and  an  upright  man,  one  that  feareth 
God  and  escheweth  evil  V  Yet  even  Job  deserved  his 
chastisements.  When  God  showed  him  his  glory,  he 
abhorred  himself  and  repented  in  dust  and  ashes. 

"  There  is  no  doubt  but  God  does,  many  times,  afflict 
us  for  our  sins. — Especially  is  this  true  of  his  redeeme<3 
ones.  You  remember  why  Moses  and  Aaron  could  not 
enter  the  promised  land  ;  why  David  was  expelled 
from  Jerusalem,  by  his  wicked  son ;  w^hy  Solomon  had 
adversaries  raised  up  to  disturb  his  old  age.  God  does 
not  willingly  afflict  his  children.  But  it  is  His  design 
to  make  them  exhibit  the  excellency  of  his  religion,  in 
their  lives  and  conversation.  When  earthly  objects 
engage  too  much  of  their  affections,  or  are  forfeited  by 
ingratitude  or  abuse  of  them,  God  sometimes  takes  them 
away.  My  dear  brother  and  sister !  did  you  not  love 
Dorence  improperly  ?  I  speak  not  of  inordinate  but  of 
improper  love.  W^e  love  things  'properly,  when  we 
love  them  as  the  gifts  of  our  heavenly  Father.  We 
may  also  love  as  parents,  brothers  and  sisters,  and 
children,  but  we  must  not  love  inordinately.  Did  God 
see  that  you  loved  him  the  more  for  giving  you  that 
pleasant  child  ? 

"  Were  you  prepared,  by  your  acquisitions  in  piety, 
to  enter  on  the  education  of  an  immortal  ?  Suppose 
he  had  lived,  would  he  have,  first  of  all,  learned  from 
you,  the  being  and  perfections  of  God  ;  his  own  ruined 
state,  by  nature,  and  the  way  of  salvation  through  Jesus 
Christ  1  W^ould  your  example  have  been  likely  to 
enforce  such  instruction  1     Would  he  have  perceived 


152  MEMOIR    OF 

from  your  daily  conversation  and  conduct,  that  you 
]oved  the  service  of  God  more  than  any  earthly  good  1 

"  Which  had  you  most  in  view,  in  your  calculations 
respecting  this  child— his  temporal  or  his  eternal 
good  1  Ask  yourselves  such  questions  as  these.  Re- 
call to  mind  the  tenor  of  your  conduct  since  you  made 
a  solemn  covenant  with  God,  and  promised  to  walk  in 
all  his  commandments  blameless.  Do  this  prayerfully, 
and  God  may  show  you  why  he  has  visited  you  in  this 
manner. 

"  But  I  observed  that  God  has  some  object  in  afflicting 
his  children.  That  object  we  may  sometimes  ascertain. 
Good  men  are  sometimes  afflicted  to  prepare  them  for 
more  extensive  usefulness.  Had  not  David  been  a  man 
of  sorrows,  we  should  never  have  received  from  him 
those  Psalms,  which  have,  for  so  many  ages,  delighted 
and  comforted  the  church.  God  afflicts  his  children  to 
purify  them ;  and  thus  render  their  hopes  of  heaven 
brighter,  and  heaven  itself  more  joyful  to  them.  Paul 
was  persuaded  that  all  his  afflictions  would  work  out 
for  him  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory.  God  afflicts,  to  show  Christians  what  is  in  their 
hearts.  While  things  go  well  with  us,  we  are  apt  to 
think  that  we  are  doing  well  for  our  souls.  Afflictions 
may,  in  such  circumstances,  be  necessary  to  teach  us 
that  our  hearts  are  much  worse  than  we  suppose — that 
w^e  have  less  submission  to  God,  less  desire  to  grow  in 
grace,  less  concern  for  the  honor  of  God  and  the  salva- 
tion of  men,  than  even  our  conduct  appeared  to  exhibit. 

"  Have  I  then  no  consolation  to  give  my  dear  brother 
and  sister  ?  I  have  consolation. — It  was  your  heavenly 
Father  who  took  away  your  little  son.  He  saw  the 
affliction  to  be  necessary.     Wait  a  little,  and  you  will 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  153 

perceive  that  he  hath  clone  all  things  well.  Wait,  I 
say,  on  the  Lord.  Cast  your  burden  upon  him,  and  he 
will  bear  it ;  your  sorrows  into  his  bosom,  and  he  will 
remember  them.  Yes,  *  weeping  may  endure  for  a 
night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning.'  Give  yourselves 
away  to  God,  and  you  will  soon  be  beyond  the  reach  of 
temptations  and  afflictions  ;  you  will  soon  shine  as  stars 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Oh  !  if  I  could  now  be  with 
you !  But  no, — it  must  not  be.  There  is  no  need  of 
it.  The  same  God  who  keeps  me  alive ;  who  hath  re- 
deemed my  soul ;  who  now  sees  me,  and  guides  my  pen 
to  write  these  lines,  is  also  with  you.  To  his  grace  I 
commend  you.  My  prayer  shall  ascend  for  your  spirit- 
ual prosperity,  and  your  temporal  good.  In  return,  do 
you  remember  what  an  arduous  and  responsible  calling 
I  am  about  to  engage  in.  Ask  of  God,  that  I  may 
have  an  abundance  of  grace;  that  I  maybe  both  faith- 
ful and  successful." 

A  season  of  comparative  dulness  ensued,  after  which 
he  again  takes  up  the  lyre  and  tunes  it  to  the  work  of 
praise : 

Sept.  17th. — "  I  have  for  several  days  past  enjoyed 
a  blessed  season  of  communion  with  God.  Jesus  ap- 
pears to  me,  indeed, '  the  chiefest  among  ten  thousand.' 
Oh  !  his  infinite  worthiness,  beauty,  glory  !  I  long  to  be 
with  him.  I  long  to  find  a  place  in  that  happy  world, 
where  sin  shall  no  more  have  dominion  over  me ; — 
where  I  shall  know  even  as  I  am  known,  and  every 
power  be  fully  employed  for  God.  '  Bless  the  Lord,  O 
my  soul !'  " 

As  the  time  drew  jiear  for  his  being  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel,  he  more  eagerly  panted  for  the  divine 
presence : 

7* 


154  MEMOIR    OF 

Sept.  19M.— "  My  heart  panteth  after  God.  I  feel 
an  almost-constant  desire  to  be  free  from  sin,  and  to 
enjoy  the  presence  of  my  Savior.  Oh  !  there  is  nothing 
else  which  can  satisfy.  The  wealth  of  India  is  nothing 
without  him.  I  ask  not  worldly  good,  O  my  Savior  ! 
but  plead  only  for  thy  gracious  smiles.  And  shall  I 
plead  in  vain  ?  Oh  !  tell  me  how  I  have  offended  thee, 
how  I  have  grieved  thy  Spirit,  and  grant  me  grace  to 
pluck  every  idol  from  ray  heart.  Thou  knowest  my 
longings  after  thee.  Oh  !  do  not  deny  me  thy  sanctify- 
ing grace.  Let  me  find  thee  present  when  I  call  upon 
thy  name.  I  know  that  I  am  unworthy,  and  that  I  ask 
for  infinite  blessings ; — but  do  I  not  know  in  whom  I 
have  trusted  ?  I  cannot  distrust  thy  grace  and  power, 
O  my  God !" 

Having  completed  his  second  year  of  theological 
study,  he  received  a  temporary  and  local  license,  accord- 
ing to  the  usage  of  the  seminary,  to  preach.  He  did 
not,  however,  use  his  license  until  November  17th,  w^hen 
he  preached  in  the  academy  at  Andover,  from  1  Peter 
2  :  7, — "  Unto  you  therefore  which  believe  he  is  pre- 
cious."— "  Had  a  strange  mixture  of  feelings ;"  he 
says,  "  it  w^as  my  first  attempt.  I  thought  that  the  Lord 
was  with  me  some  part  of  the  time,  especially  during 
the  singing  of  the  second  psalm.  Fear  prevailed  to 
some  extent,  but  I  succeeded  quite  as  w^ell  as  I  antici- 
pated.    Blessed  be  God  ! — /  do  love  the  work.^' 

For  the  most  part,  the  ensuing  w'inter  was  a  season 
of  far  less  enjoyment.  His  mind  appears  to  have  been 
somewhat  distracted  by  anxious  thoughts  as  to  his 
reputation  in  the  w^ork  of  preaching,  or  what  he  calls, 
"  ambition  to  recommend  myself,"  and  other  tempta- 
tions incident  to  his  novel  situation.     "  A  worldly  am- 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  155 

bilious  spirit,"  he  remarks,  Feb.  24:th,  "  is  my  constant 
foe.  Were  I  left  to  myself,  there  is  no  sin,  into  which 
this  spirit  might  not  lead  me." 

Still  he  lives  only  for  God,  and  derives  all  his  life 
from  above  : 

March  3d. — "  Feel,"  he  says,  "  as  if  religion  only 
could  make  me  happy,  and  as  if  I  could  love  nothing 
half  so  well.  I  long  to  be  holy — to  have  my  affections 
always  going  towards  God.  I  know  of  nothing  that  I 
would  not  give  up  for  him.  Oh!  he  is  indeed  the  foun- 
tain of  all  good.  When  shall  I  see  him  as  he  is? 
When  shall  the  vain  things  of  this  life  pass  away  ?  I 
know  that  I  am  utterly  unworthy  of  a  seat  at  Christ's 
right  hand,  and  yet  I  hope  soon  to  have  it.  Enable  me, 
O  my  God  !  to  wait  with  patience  till  '  my  appointed 
time'  come.  Keep  me  near  thyself  Blessed,  all- 
glorious  Savior !  keep  me  near  thyself." 

On  the  fast -day,  March  8th ,  he  expresses  himself 
still  more  decidedly  : — "JBlessed  be  God  !  he  will  never 
let  me  find  satisfaction  in  any  but  himself  He  is  jeal- 
ous for  his  own  honor.  For  this  I  love  him.  Yes,  I 
see  that  there  is  goodness  in  requiring  his  creatures  to 
be  entirely  his.  His  service  is  the  only  one  which  is 
calculated  to  make  them  happy  even  here  ;  Oh  !  what 
will  it  then  be  in  another  world  ?  My  heart  pants 
after  the  enjoyments  of  that  world.  I  am  sick  of  *  the 
pleasures  of  sin.'  If  I  were  to  live  here  always,  it  should 
be  my  endeavor  to  live  near  to  my  God.  So  I  now 
think.  But,  Oh !  my  deceitful  heart !  Gracious  Re- 
deemer !  save  me  from  the  effects  of  my  own  wicked 
propensities.  Wash  me  thoroughly  from  all  my  sin ; 
and  give  me  grace  to  live  near  to  thyself  I  would  ever 
keep  thy  example  in  sight.     I  would  ever  think  of  thy 


156  MEMOIR    OF 

self-flenial,  thy  humility,  thy  love,  thy  cross.  Oh  !  the 
sweet  glories  which  beam  from  the  cross  of  Christ ! 
There  is  my  hiding-place,  my  hope,  my  all.  How  joy- 
fully should  I  cast  my  crown  at  the  feet  of  him  who  '  had 
been  slain !'  How  willingly  would  I  forever  sing  the 
praise  of  my  Redeemer  !  But,  ah !  language  cannot 
express  all.  I  feel  his  love,  and  I  doubt  not  but  that  he 
will  hereafter  enable  me  to  say  how  great  it  is. 

"  What,  at  this  time,  magnifies  the  love  of  Christ  in 
my  view  is,  the  sense  I  have  of  my  sinfulness.  There 
is,  as  it  seems  to  me,  scarcely  such  another  wretch  in  the 
universe ;  and  yet  I  cannot  doubt  but  that  I  love  Christ, 
and  that  he  loves  me.  Oh  !  if  I  shall  ever  reach  the 
paradise  of  God,  I  shall  wish  to  have  it  known  how  vile 
a  sinner  Christ  hath  redeemed  in  me.  I  shall  wish  to 
have  all  regard  me  as  a  wonderful  monument  of  the 
efficacy  of  Christ's  blood,  and  of  the  condescension  of 
his  love." 

On  the  22d  he  preached  again  at  the  academy  from 
Luke  17:  25,  26.  "  My  mind,"  he  says,  "  was  sunk. 
I  had  too  much  of  the  fear  of  man  to  preach  acceptably 
to  men.  God,  I  fear,  saw  little  in  ray  services,  which 
he  could  approve.  In  myself,  I  am  ashamed  and  hum- 
bled before  him  ; — but  I  do  not  despair  of  yet  becoming 
a  zealous  and  profitable  preacher.  I  know  what  grace 
can  do.  I  place  all  my  dependence  on  grace.  I  owe 
all  to  grace.  When  it  shall  be  no  longer  exercised 
towards  me  as  actually  defiled  with  sin,  it  shall  still 
be  my  theme.     I  will  sing  of  grace  forever." 

About  this  time  he  made  an  engagement  to  preach 
at  Nottingham,  20  miles  to  the  west  of  Portsmouth  in 
New-Hampshire,  during  the  spring-vacation.  In  view 
of  it  he  remarks, — "  The  prospect  of  then  entering  on 


REV.    DR.    EALmVIN.  157 

the  active  duties  of  a  minister  is  pleasant  to  me.  But 
have  I  insured  the  assistance  and  blessing  of  God  ?  It 
is  a  serious  thing  to  have  the  care  of  souls.  Heavenly 
Father !  if  thy  presence  go  not  with  me,  carry  me  not 
thither.  Let  me  not  become  the  means  of  destruction 
to  immortal  souls." 

On  the  25th,  he  is  again  in  correspondence  with  his 
parents  :  "  It  is  some  time  since  I  last  w^rote  to  you,  and 
a  still  longer  time  since  I  received  a  letter  from  you. 
The  good  providence  of  God  still  continues  to  watch 
over  me.  I  am  going  uninterruptedly  forward  in  my 
preparation  for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Things  here 
continue  to  be  favorable  to  the  cause  of  religion.  We 
have  more  than  sixty  students  in  the  seminary.  The 
calls  made  upon  us  for  ministerial  service,  when  we 
leave,  are  numerous.  Were  a  hundred  to  graduate 
the  next  fall,  they  might  find  sufficient  employment. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  revivals  of  religion  in  New-Eng- 
land, New-Jersey,  and  the  state  of  New-York  are  un- 
commonly numerous.  In  the  district  of  Maine,  several 
have  occurred.  In  New-Hampshire,  religion  is  said  to 
be  remarkably  flourishing.  In  Vermont,  not  less  than 
a  hundred  towns  are  said  to  be  visited  with  refresh- 
ings from  the  Lord.  In  some  places  two  or  three  hun- 
dred entertain  hopes.  Waterbury  and  New>London  in 
Connecticut,  are  experiencing  a  divine  shower.  In  the 
state  of  New-York,  as  many  as  sixty  congregations  are 
visited.  In  Bloomfield  and  twelve  or  fourteen  adjoin- 
ing towns,  the  work  has  been  very  great.  As  many 
as  two  thousand  are  the  apparent  subjects  of  it.  There 
is  a  powerful  revival  of  religion  in  Newark,  Elizabeth- 
town,  and  several  adjoining  places  in  New-Jersey. 
This  state  is  still  favored  with  divine  influence.    There 


158 


MEMOIR    OF 


is  a  revival  in  Worcester,  and  in  some  other  places  near 
it,  also  in  Charlestown.  Indeed,  the  Lord  does  great 
things.  Nothing  like  this  great  work  was  ever  wit- 
nessed in  this  country  before.  Never  was  there  such  a 
spirit  of  exertion  for  Christ. 

"  I  told  you  that  there  were  many  calls  upon  us  for 
ministerial  labors.  I  had  respect  to  the  senior  class. 
We  begin  to  feel  as  if  our  term  of  preparation  were 
almost  expired.  I  hope  to  be  licensed  to  preach  abroad 
in  about  five  weeks.  My  intention  is  to  put  myself  un- 
der the  care  of  a  presbytery.  I  have  preached  once  in 
the  seminary  since  I  wrote  to  you,  and  expect  to  sup- 
ply at  Nottingham,  (20  miles  from  this,)  during  the 
spring-vacation.  I  think  I  can  say,  that  I  love  the 
good  work.  You  will  not  cease  to  pray  that  I  may  be 
faithful  and  successful. 

"  I  am  not  yet  determined  where  I  ought  to  go  im- 
mediately after  quitting  here — hope  that  Providence 
will  make  the  way  plain.  Any  information  respecting 
the  religious  state  of  the  country  about  Atwater  would 
be  interestinor. 

o 

"  After  all  my  preparation  for  what  some  would  think 
an  enviable  earthly  situation,  I  am  sometimes  con- 
strained to  think,  that  it  is  better  for  me  to  die  than  to 
live.  Yes,  there  is  rest  in  heaven.  Here,  we  are  far 
from  our  Father's  house.  A  thousand  snares  await  us, 
a  thousand  evils  fall  upon  us.  But  through  Jesus  we 
shall  triumph  over  all.  Oh  to  be  like  Christ,  to  live 
for  Christ !  i  trust  that  my  dear  parents  find  consola- 
tions in  these  things ;  that  they  are  seeking  a  better 
country  than  this  world  affords ;  that  they  seek  a  city 
whose  builder  is  God. 

"  My  parents  may  know  that  I  succeed  in  preaching 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  159 

as  well  as  I  expected.  It  is  new  business  to  me  yet, 
but  it  is  very  grateful  to  my  feelings.  Why  should  it 
not  be  so  1  I  have  long  anticipated  it.  I  have  gone 
through  a  long  course  of  study  to  be  prepared  for  it. 
And  you  may  be  assured  that  I  have  never  regretted 
having  studied  so  long." 

The  anxieties  attendant  upon  preparation  for  the 
active  life  of  the  minister  proved  unfavorable  to  his  re- 
ligious comfort.  Of  the  six  weeks  previous  to  the  6th 
of  April,  he  says, — "  Never  in  my  life  did  I  so  add  sin 
to  sin.  I  know  that  1  am  deserving  of  the  lowest  hell. 
I  would  get  very  low  before  thee.  The  very  dust  is 
my  place, — is  better  than  I  deserve.  Put  me  among 
thy  hired  servants,  O  my  God  !  and  I  am  content.  Do 
any  thing  with  me,  only  preserve  me  from  sin." 

Before  entering  upon  the  fulfilment  of  his  engage- 
ment at  Nottingham,  he  drew  up  a  series  of  precaution- 
ary rules,  that  are  well  worthy  the  attention  of  all 
candidates  for  the  gospel-ministry  : 

April  27.  "  It  seems  to  be  requisite  that  I  should, 
during  the  coming  vacation,  guard  peculiarly  against 
the  following  things  : 

*'  1.  Displaying  myself.  Let  me  beware  of  this, 
particularly  when  I  enter  the  sacred  pulpit,  attend  so- 
cial meetings,  or  converse  with  persons  of  information 
on  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel. 

"  2.  Being  elated  with  the  approbation  of  men.  Every 
young  minister  is  liable  to  be  flattered.  Good  men  of- 
ten mistake  in  this  particular.  They  bestow  extrava- 
gant encomiums,  and  without  much  considering  their 
pernicious  effect. 

"3.  Discouragement  arising  from  my  awn  unworthi^ 
ness.    God  can  make  his  word  effectual,  though  it  be 


160  MEMOIR    OF 

dispensed  by  a  weak  and  sinful  man.  I  do  not  expect 
to  convert  men  by  my  own  power,  wisdom,  or  good- 
ness. 

"  4.  Impatience  and  a  hasty  spirit.  I  must  bear 
equally  with  the  weakness  of  some  and  the  forward- 
ness of  others.  The  blessed  Savior  suffered  '  the  con- 
tradiction of  sinners.'  He  was  never  angry,  impatient, 
nor  peevish. 

"  5.  Sloth.  I  find  myself  disposed  to  spend  my  vaca- 
tion unprofitably.  I  am  apt  to  indulge  in  sleep,  in 
useless  conversation,  and  romantic  and  idle  thoughts. 

"  6.  Jill  excess  in  eating.  The  pleasures  of  the  table 
are  a  snare  to  me. 

"  By  the  grace  of  God  assisting  me,  I  hope  to  live 
nearer  to  him,  and  to  do  more  for  him,  than  I  ever  did 
before  in  the  same  time.  This  is  my  desire.  Lord 
Jesus !  enable  me  to  compass  it." 

After  a  suitable  examination,  he  was,  in  due  form, 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newburyport,  on  the  1st 
of  May,  to  preach  the  gospel. 

The  hope,  so  ferv.ently  expressed,  of  being  more  than 
ever  useful  in  his  Master's  cause,  proved  to  be  not  vis- 
ionary, as  the  record  of  his  labors  in  N.  will  show  : 

May  4:.  "Preached  to-day  at  the  South  meeting- 
house. The  audience  was  small,  on  account  of  a  bap- 
tism among  the  Baptists,  in  Mr.  Merrill's  congregation. 
Text  in  the  forenoon,  '  Unto  you,  therefore,  which  be- 
lieve,' &c.  In  the  afternoon,  '  Cast  ye  the  unprofitable 
servant  into  outer  darkness.' 

"  The  people  in  the  forenoon  were  not  remarkably 
attentive.  They,  however,  manifested  some  feeling 
near  the  close  of  the  discourse.  In  the  afternoon  sev- 
eral of  them  wept. — Precious  souls !     God  grant  that 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  161 

you  may  not  be  left  to  neglect  the  great  salvation.  The 
sight  of  more  than  ordinary  feeling  added  to  my  ani- 
mation. I  trust  that  God  was  present.  Oh  !  may  he 
be  with  us  in  all  our  meetings.  May  he  assist  all  my 
feeble  endeavors.  May  his  grace  be  sufficient  for  me  ; 
may  his  glorious  power  shine  forth  in  this  place  in  bow- 
ing the  hearts  of  sinners  into  sweet  submission  to  him. 
I  long,  0  my  God !  to  witness  thy  salvation  among 
this  people." 

May  11.  "  Preached  to-day  at  the  North  meeting- 
house, to  a  large  audience.  God  seemed  to  give  an 
energy  to  his  word.  Many  were  in  tears.  Oh  that  he 
would  appear  to  build  up  Zion  in  this  place  !  I  see 
that  I  can  do  nothing  ;  and  feel,  I  think,  a  disposition 
to  give  him  all  the  glory. 

"  I  had  some  enlargement  in  prayer  to-day ; — but 
fear  that  it  w^as  more  the  effect  of  a  high  state  of  ani- 
mal excitement  than  of  divine  influence.  I  am  in  great 
danger  of  giving  way  to  merely  animal  feelings.  If  1 
know  my  heart,  I  do  love  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
But  I  have  many  wrong  feelings  in  regard  to  it.  I  am 
too  fond  of  popularity.  What  a  wretch  am  I,  to  think 
of  exhibiting  myself,  when  I  should  hold  forth  the  Sav- 
ior alone  !  I  do  indeed  stand  in  perishing  need  of 
grace.  Oh !  give  me  grace — grace.  Nothing  else 
will  satisfy.     1  would  be  like  thee,  my  Redeemer  !" 

"  Appear  to  myself  to  find  great  delight  in  the  wor- 
ship of  God.  My  heart  goes  out  after  my  Savior.  I 
do  love  him  and  his  cause.  His  character  is  precious, 
and  precious  is  his  salvation.  Blessed  Jesus !  I  cannot 
tell  thee  how  much  I  love  thee,  but  thou  knowest.  It 
is  fit  that  I  should  love  thee  much  ;  thou  hast  forgiven 
me  much  ,  grant  that  I  may  do  much  for  thy  glory." 


162  MEMOIR    OF 

To  his  brother  he  writes  on  the  24th,  as  follows : — 
"  Father's  letter,  dated  April  28th,  has  come  to  hand. 
It  was  forwarded  by  mail  from  Deerfield.  No  commu- 
nication from  my  friends  ever  gave  me  more  pleasure. 
I  feel  that  we  ought  to  recognize  the  hand  of  God,  in 
so  remarkably  preserving  the  lives  and  health  of  our 
family  in  a  new  country.  It  gives  me,  however,  some 
unpleasant  feelings  to  reflect  on  your  being  so  entirely 
destitute  of  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  Religion 
must,  in  such  circumstances,  soon  come  to  be  es- 
teemed a  secondary  thing.  Such  indeed  the  world 
esteem  it.  But  saith  our  Savior,  *  What  shall  it  profit 
a  man  if  he  gain  the  whole  w^orld  and  lose  his  own 
soul,  or  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his 
soul  V  What,  my  brother !  would  it  profit  you  and 
your  family,  if  you  should  become  rich  in  the  things  of 
this  world,  but  lose  the  everlasting  felicity  of  the  next  ? 
Let  me  have  God  and  heaven  for  my  portion,  and  I 
ask  no  more. 

"  It  is  vacation  in  the  seminary.  I  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  the  first  day  of  this  month,  and  am 
performing  the  duties  of  a  minister  in  this  place.  It  is 
a  destitute  place,  but  the  people  seem  to  have  some 
sense  of  the  importance  of  religion.  Several  are  under 
religious  impressions.  The  church  alone  seem  to  hang 
back,  and  that  discourages  me.  I  have  visited  some 
sick-beds,  and  endeavored  tc  preach  from  house  to 
house. 

'*  Vacation  closes  in  about  three  weeks,  when  I  hope 
to  return  once  more  to  Andover,  and  complete  my 
course  of  study.  But  where  I  shall  go  then  cannot  yet 
be  determined.  There  is  a  probability  that  I  shall  visit 
Ohio,  but  I  hardly  dare  to  speak  it  aloud.     You  are 


REV.    DR.   BALDWIN.  163 

undoubtedly  desirous  of  seeing  me  there,  especially  our 
dear  parents,  but  you  must  give  me  up  to  Providence. 
I  might  stay  in  New  England  if  I  wished.  The  people 
here  say,  they  would  keep  me,  but  I  have  told  them, 
No.  I  have  also  received  a  formal  application  to 
preach,  as  a  candidate,  in  a  large  town  near  this,  but  I 
have  said,  No. 

"  It  would  not  be  well  for  you  to  mention  these  facts  ; 
but  they  may  teach  you,  that  my  seeing  the  western 
part  of  our  country,  does  not  depend  on  my  not  finding 
employment  here.  The  calls  for  ministers  are  many  and 
urgent.  Our  class  of  20,  which  graduates  the  next  au- 
tumn, are  nothing  to  the  demand.  A  hundred  are 
wanted  in  these  parts,  and  five  hundred  for  the  rest  of 
our  country. 

"  I  am  as  much  pleased  w^ith  preaching  as  I  had  ever 
anticipated.  It  is  a  noble  employment: — But,  alas! 
*  who  is  sufl[icient  for  these  things  V  I  surely  am  not. 
The  experiment  proves  that  I  can  regenerate  no  one. 
But  this  is  my  consolation,  God  hath  committed  the 
'  treasure'  of  the  gospel  to  *  earthen  vessels,'  that  the 
glory  may  be  his.  Most  wiUingly,  then,  would  I  be 
nothing,  that  he  may  be  all  in  all. 

"  My  health  is  tolerably  good.  Nothing  indeed  pre- 
vents my  calling  it  the  best,  but  a  cold  which  I  took 
last  week  at  Andover.  My  lungs  are  strong.  And,  I 
think,  my  voice  will  prove  suflficiently  loud  and  distinct. 
I  preach  without  much  labor.  I  hold  two  lectures  on 
week-days,  besides  the  exercises  of  the  Sabbath." 

At  the  close  of  the  month  he  writes, — "  Have  been 
to  Andover  and  to  Windham  to  preach.  Mr.  Harris,  of 
Windham,  administered  the  Sacrament  of  the  Supper 
here  the  last  Lord's  day.     A  large  number  of  people 


164  MEMOIR   OF 

were  present  at  the  celebration,  and  behaved  with  great 
seriousness.  I  returned  from  Windham  on  Monday. 
Arrived  at  twelve,  and  found  that  the  funeral  of  Mr.  B. 
was  to  be  attended  at  one.  Went  and  preached.  Num- 
ber of  people  very  great.     B.  H died  Thursday 

morning,  and  her  funeral  was  attended  on  Friday,  at 
one  P.  M.  I  preached  from  John  13:  7.  There  was 
a  large  collection  of  people,  who  were  very  solemn. 
I  then  rode  five  miles,  and  preached  in  the  school-house 
on  Bush-Hill.  Many  attended.  Text  Matth.  11:  23. 
The  house  was  crowded  with  people,  and  many  were 
in  tears.  One  notorious  sinner  followed  me  from  Hill's 
Ferry  to  Bush-Hill.  He  appeared  to  be  in  great  dis- 
tress of  mind. 

"  There  are  hopeful  prospects  of  a  revival  here. 
Many  have  evidently  a  hearing  ear,  and  some  are  un- 
der conviction  of  sin.  But  the  church  are  still  too 
much  asleep,  and  the  Baptists  are  swarming  in  beyond 
all  measure.  Should  a  work  of  grace  commence,  the 
visible  contest  would  probably  be  great ;  but  the  same 
Lord  who  begins  it  will  be  able  to  carry  it  on  to  his 
own  glory. 

"  Amidst  the  labors  which  devolve  upon  me,  I  feel 
myself  too  much  disposed  to  neglect  my  own  heart. 
The  work  is  pleasant  to  me.  I  cannot,  I  do  not,  desire 
any  better  employment,  than  preaching  the  gospel. 
My  feelings  on  this  subject  pre  such,  that  I  am  much 
delivered  from  doubts  respecting  my  own  spiritual 
state.  I  am  indeed  a  miserable  sinner,  but  I  put  my 
confidence  jn  the  Savior  of  sinners. 

"  I  seem  to  myself  to  have  been  much  assisted  in 
some  of  my  extemporaneous  efforts,  during  the  week  ; 
and  yet  my  heart,  during  some  part  of  the  time,  has 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  165 

been  in  a  bad  state.  To-night  my  feelings  are  com- 
posed, and  I  feel  in  some  measure  prepared  for  the 
coming  Sabbath.  Oh  that  the  Lord  would  be  wdth 
me !  Blessed  Jesus !  be  with  me,  and  I  w^ant  no 
more." 

June  1.  "  Preached  to-day  at  the  North  meeting- 
house, to  a  considerable  assembly  ;  many  of  whom 
w^ere  in  tears.  God  is  doing  something  for  this  people, 
and  I  hope  w^ill  do  still  more.  I  find  myself  a  weak,  as 
well  as  an  unw'orthy  instrument.  Should  God  conde- 
scend to  make  use  of  me  in  promoting  a  revival  here, 
it  will  be  most  evident,  that  all  the  powder  is  from  him. 
My  desire  is,  to  be  able  to  give  him  all  the  glory.  Yes, 
blessed  Father !  the  glory  is  thy  due,  all  the  glory. 
But,  Oh  !  my  ambitious  heart !  Keep  me  humble,  blessed 
Redeemer  !  keep  me  humble.  I  need  thy  grace.  Let 
it  be  sufficient  for  me." 

The  same  jealousy,  which  he  had  manifested  in  other 
scenes  for  the  honor  of  his  Lord  and  the  success  of  his 
cause,  he  now  still  more  deeply  feels  in  relation  to  the 
work  of  grace  with  which  God  was  evidently  crowning 
his  labors.  "  I  am  constantly  afraid,"  he  remarks, 
"  that  my  pride  and  ambition  will  prevent  a  revival  of 
rehgion  here.  It  seems  to  me,  that  such  an  unworthy 
servant  of  Christ,  as  I  am,  never  had  his  labors  blessed 
to  the  salvation  of  precious  souls.  I  see  that  nothing 
but  almighty  grace  can  keep  me  from  being  exalted 
above  measure.  '  Oh  !  wretched  man  that  I  am  !  w^ho 
shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death  V  Gra- 
cious Redeemer  !  thou,  and  thou  only,  canst  do  it.  To 
thee  I  fly. 

"I  have  much  need  of  divine  assistance,  to  go 
through  with  the  labors  of  this  week.     Four  meetings 


166  MEMOIR    OF 

are  appointed ;  three  of  them  to  be  lectures. — But  I 
desire  to  leave  all  with  God.  He  can  support,  and  I 
trust,  he  will  support." 

The  record  of  his  labors  in  the  vacation  he  completes 
after  his  return  to  Andover  : — My  5.  "  Continued  at 
Nottingham  until  June  14th,  and  then  returned  to  this 
place,  supplying  Dracut,"  (adjoining  Lowell,)  "  on  my 
way.  The  attention  to  religion,  which  had  begun  to 
manifest  itself  at  Nottingham,  continued  to  increase.  I 
preached  several  lectures  the  succeeding  week-days, 
and  always  to  large  audiences.  The  following  Sabbath 
I  spent  at  Pelham,  where  I  found  a  sober  congrega- 
tion. On  my  return  to  Nottingham,  I  attended  the 
funeral  of  a  young  child,  and  preached.  On  Tuesday 
I  preached  again,  at  the  house  of  E.  M. ;  and  on 
Wednesday  at  the  South  meeting-house,  to  the  youth. 
Friday,  5  P.  M.,  I  preached  my  last  discourse  to  them, 
at  the  Red  School- house,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
town. 

"  The  revival  had,  in  the  mean  time,  become  daily 
more  interesting.  Eight  persons  gave  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  their  having  experienced  the  new  birth,  and  a 
great  number  were  brought  under  conviction.  There 
seemed  to  be  a  general  inquiry  excited  on  the  subject 
of  rehgion.  Many  of  the  Baptist  denomination  took 
great  interest  in  the  work  ;  and  several  of  them  were, 
as  I  had  reason  to  think,  pe^-suaded  to  seek  their  own 
salvation.  In  general,  they  treated  me  with  great  re- 
spect and  kindness.  I  had  frequent  and  earnest  invita- 
tions to  vjsit  them ;  which  I  did  not  hesitate,  when 
convenient,  to  comply  with.  Some  of  my  conversa- 
tions with  them  were  refreshing  to  my  soul. 

"  I  left  Nottingham  with  regret.     The  people  were 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  167 

urgent  for  my  stay,  though  they  submitted,  like  Chris- 
tians, to  what  they  perceived  to  be  my  duty.  My 
labors  among  them  were  too  great  for  my  strength ; 
but  I  have  since  in  a  great  measure  regained  it.  The 
last  accounts  from  them  show  that  the  good  work  is 
going  on.  May  the  Lord  extend  it,  and  render  it 
effectual  to  the  salvation  of  many  souls  there,  and  in 
the  adjoining  towns. 

"  The  Sabbath  after  my  return  I  preached  in  Boston, 
—Park-street,  A.  M.,  and  Old  South,  P.  M.  Last  Sab- 
bath I  went  to  Danvers,  and  supplied  Mr.  Walker's 
pulpit.  In  the  evening  I  preached  a  lecture  for  Dr. 
Worcester ; — and  spent  the  night  at  his  house. 

"  My  labors  during  the  past  vacation,  have  served  to 
strengthen  my  desires  after  the  sacred  ministry.  They 
have  also  raised  my  hopes  of  success.  I  perceive  that 
God  is  ready  to  bless  his  word  ;  and  that  the  feeblest 
means  may,  through  his  blessing,  prove  effectual.  'God 
can  work,  and  who  shall  hinder  V  " 

On  the  following  Sabbath  he  is  again  preaching  at 
Dracut  to  the  congregation  of  Mr.  Gould.  "  God  has 
begun,"  he  says,  "  a  work  of  grace  among  this  people. 
About  30  of  them  already  appear  to  have  experienced 
a  change  of  heart,  and  numbers  are  under  religious 
impressions."  He  is  further  cheered  in  his  ministerial 
labors  by  the  intelligence  that  "  the  work  at  jffotting- 
ham  still  continues." 

In  the  course  of  the  next  month  he  preached  at 
Haverhill  and  at  Plaistow.  Nearly  fourteen  years  af- 
terwards, when  performing  a  similar  service  at  the  lat- 
ter place,  the  compiler  of  these  memoirs  enjoyed  the  hos- 
pitality of  a  deacon  in  that  church,  and  one  of  its  firmest 
props,  who  attributed  his  conversion  to  Mr.  B.'s  preach- 


168  MEMOIR   OF 

ing  on  that  occasion,  and  spoke  of  him  with  the  ut- 
most respect  and  affection.  The  knowledge  of  this 
result  of  his  labors  did  not  reach  Mr.  B.  until  more 
than  20  years  after  its  occurrence.  "  Cast  thy  bread 
upon  the  waters,  for  thou  shalt  find  it  after  many  days." 
How  many  such  disclosures  will  be  made  to  the  faith- 
ful preacher,  after  his  arrival  in  a  brighter  world  ! 

On  Wednesday,  the  10th  of  September,  1817,  he  was 
solemnly  ordained  at  Londonderry,  (N.  H.,)  to  the 
work  of  the  gospel-ministry  as  an  Evangelist,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Londonderry.  On  the  24th  of  the  same 
month  he  completed  his  course  of  theologicaHtudy  at 
Andover,  on  which  occasion  his  theme  at  the  anniver- 
sary exercises  was — "  The  Preaching  of  President  Ed- 
wards." 


CHAPTER    VII. 

New-York  city  in  1817. — Efforts  to  extend  the  Gospel  there. — 
Mr.  B.  engages  to  labor  as  a  City-Missionary. — Journey  to 
New-York. 

We  have  now  traced  the  course  of  Mr.  Baldwin 
to  the  time  of  his  entering  upon  public  life,  and  have 
seen  in  what  way  the  Lord  trained  him  for  the  work  of 
self-denial  in  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
"  It  is  of  the  very  first  necessity,"  said  Luther  in  his 
appeal  to  the  emperor  and  nobility  of  the  German 
nation,  "  that  we  do  not  at  all  rely  upon  our  own 
strength,  or  our  own  wisdom.  If  we  begin  even  a  good 
work  with  confidence  in  ourselves,  God  overturns  and 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  169 

destroys  it."  The  Lord  had  both  a  good  and  a  great 
work  for  the  subject  of  this  narrative  to  perform,  and 
by  a  long  course  of  discipline  taught  him  to  say, 


*'  I  glory  in  infirmity, 
That  Christ's  own  pow'r  may  rest  on  me  ; 
When  I  am  weak  then  am  I  strong, 
Grace  is  my  shield,  and  Christ  my  song." 


Before  we  follow  him  to  the  scene  of  his  subsequent 
labors,  let  us  look  somewhat  into  the  religious  history 
of  the  city  of  New-York,  in  which  he  was  to  be,  for 
so  many  years,  "  a  burning  and  a  shining  light." 

The  city  of  New-York  contained,  in  the  year  1817,  a 
population  of  about  120,000  souls.  The  first  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  this  city  was  organized  in  the  year  1716, 
and  their  first  house  of  worship  built  on  the  site  of  the 
Wall-street  church,  in  1719.  Their  first  pastor  was 
the  Rev.  James  Anderson  of  Scotland.  This  continued 
to  be  the  only  church  of  the  name  for  forty  years.  In 
1756,  owing  to  a  controversy  which  grew  in  part  out  of 
the  substitution  of  Dr.  Watts'  version  of  the  Psalms  for 
Rouse's,  or  the  "  Old  Scotch  version,"  a  part  of  the 
church  withdrew,  and  formed  the  "  Scotch  Presbyterian 
church,"  This  congregation  erected  a  house  of  wor- 
ship in  Cedar-street,  of  which  the  Rev.  John  Mason, 
D.  D.  of  Scotland,  was  the  first  pastor. 

Shortly  after  the  settlement  of  the  Rev.  John  Rogers, 
D.  D.  over  the  Wall-street  church  in  1765,  the  congre- 
gation were  blessed  with  a  considerable  revival  of 
religion,  and  greatly  enlarged.  Measures  were  shortly 
after  taken  to  erect  an  additional  house  of  worship  at 
the  corner  of  Beekman  and  Nassau-streets,  in  "the 
8 


170  MEMOIR   OF 

fields"  where  Whltefield  frequently  preached  to  thou- 
sands. The  "  Brick  meeting"  house  was  opened  Jan- 
uary 1,  1768,  where  the  two  ministers,  Dr.  Rogers  and 
Mr.  Joseph  Teal  preached  alternately. 

No  further  additions  were  made  to  the  number  of 
Presbyterian  churches  in  this  city  until  1798,  when  the 
two  collegiate  churches  united  and  built  a  third  at  the 
corner  of  Henry  and  Rutgers-streets,  in  the  eastern 
section  of  the  city.  It  was  opened  for  public  worship 
May  13,  1798,  and  the  congregation  placed,  with  the 
other  two,  under  the  collegiate  pastoral  care  of  the 
Rev.  Drs.  Rogers,  M'Knight  and  Miller.  In  1809 
they  were  organized  into  three  distinct  churches. 

About  the  year  1800,  a  branch  of  the  Scotch  church 
which  had  become  connected  with  the  Associate  Re- 
formed Presbytery,  was  organized  into  a  distinct  church, 
and  over  them  both  the  two  Drs.  Mason,  father  and 
son,  were  settled  as  collegiate  pastors.  The  new  con- 
gregation erected  a  house  of  worship  in  Pearl-street, 
near  the  "Fresh  water  pond,"  or  "  Collect." 

In  1807,  owing  to  the  crowded  state  of  the  Wall- 
street  and  Brick  churches,  an  association  was  formed, 
who  erected  a  house  of  worship  in  Cedar-street,  be- 
tween Nassau  and  William-streets,  which  was  opened 
Nov.  6,  1808.  The  Rev.  John  B.  Romeyn,  D.  D.  was 
their  first  pastor.  They  are  now  known  as  the  Duane- 
street  church.  In  1809  a  sor'iety  was  organized,  prin- 
cipally of  Irish  Presbyterians,  who  erected  a  house  of 
worship  in  Orange-street,  and  were  at  first  under  the 
pastoral  c^re  of  the  Rev.  John  M'Neice.  They  are 
now  known  as  the  Canal-street  church. 

The  Scotch  Presbyterians  erected  a  third  church  in 
Murray-street,  near  Columbia  College,  in   1810,  and 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  171 

Dr.  J.  M.  Mason  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tion.    This  is  now  the  church  in  Astor-place. 

A  little  band  of  Presbyterians,  who  resided  in  that 
part  of  the  city  which  bordered  on  Greenwich  village, 
were  in  1811  organized  into  a  church,  and  soon  after 
erected  a  house  of  worship  in  Spring-street,  near  Var- 
ick.  Their  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Matthew  L.  R. 
Perrine,  D.  D.  They  have  since  been  known  as  the 
Laight-street  church. 

All  these  churches,  with  the  exception  of  the  three 
Scotch  churches,  were  united  together  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  New- York;  and,  together  with 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church,  founded  in  the  year 
1797,  and  worshipping  in  Chambers-street,  opposite  the 
Alms  House,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
M'Leod,  constituted  in  18 17  the  whole  of  the  Presby- 
terian interest  in  the  city. 

At  this  period,  there  were  not  more  than  52  congre- 
gations of  Christians,  in  the  city,  of  all  denominations. 
The  average  attendance  on  the  several  churches  was 
not  more  than  about  600.  Making  all  allowance  for 
children,  invalids,  and  those  otherwise  necessarily  de- 
tained, nearly  one  half  of  the  whole  population  must 
have  been  living  in  an  almost  total  neglect  of  public 
worship.  The  greater  part  of  the  churches  were 
crowded  into  the  lower  and  smaller  section  of  the  city. 
In  the  fourth  and  seventh  wards,  stretchins;  alono^  the 
East  River,  and  embracing  a  population  of  25,000 
souls,  there  were  not  more  than  4  churches.  Destitute 
not  only  of  a  stated  ministry,  but  to  a  great  extent  of 
the  Bible,  a  large  portion  of  this  unevangelized  portion 
of  the  city  indulged  in  the  most  debasing  immorality. 


172  MEMOIR    OF 

Intemperance,  profanity,  Sabbath-breaking  and  licen- 
tiousness prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent. 

Such  a  state  of  things  called  for  an  efficient  remedy. 
"  The  New-York  Sunday  School  Union  Society"  was 
organized  in  February,  1816,  w^hose  "sole  object  was 
to  arrest  the  progress  of  vice,  and  to  promote  the  moral 
and  religious  instruction  of  the  depraved  and  unedu- 
cated part  of  the  community  on  the  Lord's  day."  An 
intelligent  observer  remarks  that  when  they  "  first  en- 
gaged in  their  labors  of  love,  they  found  the  streets  of 
the  city  and  the  habitations  of  the  poor  one  living  spec- 
tacle of  intoxication.  They  were  shocked  to  see  the 
squalid  misery,  the  loathsome  disease,  and  still  more 
loathsome  moral  deformity  of  infancy,  youth,  manhood 
and  age  ;  all  occasioned  by  the  habitual  use  of  ardent 
spirits  among  the  poor,  without  distinction  of  sex  or 
years." 

At  the  first  quarterly  meeting  of  the  society  in  May, 
it  was  said  in  one  of  the  reports — "  By  a  systematic 
division  of  all  that  part  of  the  city  included  by  Catha- 
rine-street, the  Bowery  road,  and  Rivington-street,  we 
were  enabled  to  visit  every  house,  and  to  ascertain 
most  of  the  objects  of  the  institution.  This  brought 
together  at  our  first  meeting  about  300  children,  mostly 
boys,  from  10  to  15  years  of  age,  whose  mental  stu- 
pidity was  only  equalled  by  their  depravity  and  disre- 
spect for  good  behavior.'"  / 

A  large  proportion  of  this  surplus  population  were 
miserably  poor.  In  January,  18 17,  so  extreme  were  their 
sufferings,  that  a  large  public  meeting  of  citizens  was 
called  to  devise  some  means  of  immediate  relief.  Six 
thousand  dollars  were  contributed  in  a  few  days,  and  "  so 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  173 

prodigious  was  the  number  of  distressed  applicants  for 
food,  fuel  and  clothing,"  that  the  money  was  immedi- 
ately expended.  "  Full  15,000  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren received  aid  during  the  season  from  the  hand  of 
public  and  private  charity." 

In  March,  1817,  the  Rev.  Ward  Stafford,  then  la- 
boring in  the  employment  of  the  "  Female  Missionary 
Society  for  the  Poor  of  the  city  of  New-York  and  its 
vicinity,"  published  a  pamphlet  entitled  "New  Mis- 
sionary Field."  Having  exhibited  the  destitution  and 
lamentable  corruptions  that  characterized  large  por- 
tions of  the  city,  he  remarked, ''  Let  suitable  men  be 
employed  to  labor  as  evangelists ;  let  them  be  aided 
by  private  Christians  ;  let  houses  of  worship  be  erect- 
ed. Glorious  conquests  would  then,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  soon  be  made  ;  large  churches  and  congrega- 
tions would  soon  be  formed." 

These  representations,  together  with  the  interest 
awakened  in  connection  with  the  Sunday  School  ef- 
fort, soon  drew  the  attention  of  the  Christian  commu- 
nity in  the  city  to  their  own  pagan  population.  "  The 
Young  Men's  New-York  Missionary  Society,"  which 
had  been  formed  in  1809,  as  an  auxiliary  of  the  New- 
York  Missionary  Society,  became  in  February,  1816, 
an  independent  body,  and  entered  immediately  upon 
the  work  of  Home  Missions.  In  December  of  the 
same  year,  an  unfortunate  controversy  arose  in  the  so- 
ciety in  relation  to  doctrine,  which  resulted  in  the 
organization,  Dec.  27,  1816,  of  "  The  New- York 
Evangelical  Missionary  Society  of  Young  Men."  On 
the  10th  of  the  next  month,  the  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Cox 
was  appointed  to  labor  as  their  missionary  in  the  desti- 
tute parts  of  the  city.     This  was  the  beginning  of 


174  MEMOIR    OF 

Home  -  Missionary  operations  in  the  city  of  New- 
York. 

Mr.  Cox  had  scarcely  received  his  appointment  be- 
fore he  was  called  to  another  and  more  inviting  field. 
In  the  following  March,  the  society  made  application 
to  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  for  the  ser- 
vices of  one  of  the  young  men  about  to  leave  the  insti- 
tution. Mr.  Samuel  C.  Aikin  was,  in  consequence, 
received  April  18th,  as  a  missionary,  into  the  service  of 
the  society,  to  labor  among  the  destitute  of  the  city. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey  says — "  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  the  Young  Men's  Committee  of  Missions  in 
the  city  of  New-York,  and  warmly  recommending  Mr. 
Baldwin  to  their  notice."  In  consequence  of  this  re- 
commendation he  was  received  May  7th,  1817,  as  one 
of  their  missionaries.  The  rival  society  also  took  up 
the  subject  in  May,  and  sought  out  a  missionary  to 
preach  to  the  poor  in  the  city.  They  engaged  the 
Rev.  W.  W.  Philips,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church, 
who  commenced  his  labors  in  the  following  October. 
After  four  weeks  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John 
E.  Miller  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

This  brief  sketch  may  suffice  to  introduce  us  to  the 
field  into  which  Mr.  Baldwin  was  about  to  enter. 

Immediately  after  the  anniversary  he  left  Andover 
on  his  way  to  New-York.  He  passed  the  following 
Sabbath  with  Dr.  Strong  at  Norwich.  After  spending 
several  days  very  pleasantly  in  N.,  and  receiving  from 
Dr.  Strong,  Mr.  Lathrop,  and  their  families,  many  kind 
attentions,  he  left  for  Fairfield,  where  he  designed  to 
spend  the  following  Sabbath.  He  arrived  at  New- 
Haven  on  Friday  evening,  where,  by  an  unforeseen 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  175 

providence  he  was  detained  for  several  days.  Having 
passed  the  night  at  Mr.  Foster's,  he  repaired  next 
morning  to  the  stage  house,  in  time  to  start  for  Fair- 
field, but  was  unable  to  find  his  baggage,  which  the 
night  before  he  had  committed  to  the  care  of  the  land- 
lord. No  one  could  give  any  account  of  it.  It  con- 
tained all  his  apparel  and  valuable  manuscripts,  inclu- 
ding the  few  sermons  that  he  had  written — his  whole 
stock  in  trade, — save  one  that  he  had  unwittingly  com- 
mitted to  his  pocket. 

This  serious  loss  arrested  his  steps,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  remain.  Mr.  Merwin,  the  pastor  of  the  1st 
church  urged  him  to  preach  the  next  morning,  and  he 
consented.  The  Lord's  Supper  was  to  be  adminis- 
tered, and  his  only  sermon  was  not  adapted  to  the 
occasion.  He  commenced  in  the  evening  to  write  an- 
other, finished  it  the  next  morning,  and  preached  it 
before  the  communion.  The  oldest  son  of  the  pastor 
was  thereby  brought  under  conviction,  and  Mr.  B. 
heard  the  next  evening  that  he  had  apparently  experi- 
enced a  change  of  heart. 

On  Monday,  after  attending  a  prayer-meeting  in  the 
vestry  of  the  church,  and  addressing  the  people  with 
much  apparent  effect,  his  trunk  was  safely  returned  to 
him,  having  been  picked  up  on  the  steamboat  wharf, 
whither  it  had  been  carried  by  mistake,  and  left  unpro- 
tected during  the  night.  The  whole  circumstance  he 
regarded  as  most  providential,  and  thought  that  it 
should  "  banish  from  his  mind,  in  time  to  come,  all  dis- 
trust of  God." 

He  reached  Fairfield  on  Tuesday  evening,  and  re- 
mained there  a  week.  His  preaching  on  the  Sabbath 
was  so  favorably  received,  that  he  was  urged  to  supply 


176  MEMOIR    OF 

the  pulpit  as  a  candidate  for  settlement.  However 
flattering  the  prospect,  and  desirable  as  he  regarded  a 
location  among  a  people  to  whom  he  was  already  so 
ardently  attached,  he  was  constrained  to  decline  their 
request.  On  Tuesday  he  left  for  New-York,  where  he 
arrived  the  next  morning,  October  15th. 

On  the  same  evening  the  managers  of  the  Society 
met,  and  an  application  w^as  presented  to  them  from 
the  Fairfield  people  for  his  release  from  their  service. 
They  deemed  the  reasons  insufficient,  and  "  resolved 
that  the  corresponding  secretary,"  the  Rev.  Dr.  Spring, 
"  be  a  committee  to  wait  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin, 
and  that,  should  it  meet  his  views,  he  be  directed  to 
labor  in  the  city  for  the  term  of  six  months."  It  was 
by  the  representations  of  Dr.  Spring,  that  he  was  in- 
duced to  take  up  his  abode  in  New-York,  and  under- 
take the  self-denying  labor  of  a  missionary  among  the 
poor  and  destitute. 

This  result  he  announces  to  his  parents  in  a  letter, 
dated  Oct.  26 : 

"Providence  seems,  at  length,  to  have  fixed  my 
station  in  this  city,  at  least  for  a  few  months.  It  is 
some  time  since  I  engaged  to  serve  a  Missionary  So- 
ciety formed  in  this  place,  with  the  expectation  that 
they  would  send  me  into  the  western  part  of  the  state. 
Buffalo  was  marked  out  as  having  a  destitute  region 
about  it. 

"  I  accordingly  came  hither,  prepared  to  make  my 
■way  to  Buffalo,  and  to  commence  my  labors  in  its  vi- 
cinity. FroijQ  that  place  I  hoped  to  extend  my  tours, 
even  as  far  as  New-Connecticut.  But  a  '  new  mis- 
sionary field'  has  recently  come  into  notice.  This  city 
contains  about    120,000  inhabitants.     Of  these  more 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  177 

than  50,000  are  destitute  of  religious  instruction.  They 
belong  to  no  religious  society,  and  attend  no  religious 
meeting.  Half  of  them,  perhaps  more,  are  unable  to 
read  ;  and  of  those  who  can  read,  not  a  few  have  never 
seen,  and  some  have  never  heard  of  a  Bible.  You  will, 
of  course,  conclude  that  they  are  very  ignorant.  They 
are  so ;  and  they  are,  for  the  most  part,  as  vicious  as 
they  are  ignorant.  In  short,  they  are  heathen,  except 
that  they  bear  the  name  of  Christians. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  wonder  how  these  people  could 
have  lived  for  years  within  the  sight  of  churches  and 
the  hearing  of  bells,  without  improving  their  opportu- 
nities. The  fact  is,  these  poor  people  have  no  seats  in 
those  churches,  or  but  very  few  of  them  at  the  most. 
There  are  but  50  churches  in  the  whole  city.  These 
churches  would  not  hold  more  than  60,000  people,  if 
every  seat  and  aisle  were  occupied.  It  is  quite  impos- 
sible for  the  poor  in  this  city  to  find  seats,  or  even 
places  where  they  may  stand,  in  the  houses  of  worship. 
They  are,  besides,  too  ignorant  and  vicious,  and  unac- 
customed to  attend  religious  meetings,  to  desire  to 
worship  God  in  his  house.  Somebody  must  visit  them 
at  their  homes,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  them  from 
house  to  house.  A  number  of  missionaries  are  actually 
engaged  in  this  good  work.  The  Society  have  voted 
that  I  be  requested  to  stay  and  engage  in  it.  As  the 
vote  is  unanimous,  and  the  necessity  of  a  pressing  na- 
ture, I  think  it  is  clearly  my  duty  to  stay. 

"  I  conclude  that  you  will  be  disappointed  at  not 
seeinor  nae  in  Ohio  the  cominp^  winter.  But  I  trust 
that  you  have  given  me  up  for  the  service  of  the  Lord. 
I  might  have  done  better  for  myself,  than  I  probably 
shall  do,  by  coming  to  this  city.  Several  opportunities 
8* 


178  MEMOIR    OF 

were  afforded  me  of  preaching  as  a  candidate  for  im- 
mediate settlement.  But  I  hope  that  I  have  been  ena- 
bled to  refuse  them,  from  a  desire  to  be  more  extensively- 
useful.  I  am  indeed  a  soldier,  enlisted  for  Christ.  Oh ! 
do  not  cease  to  pray  that  I  may  be  faithful  and  success- 
ful in  the  station  which  God  has  here  assigned  me. 

"You  will  be  pleased  to  hear,  that  my  labors  have 
been,  in  some  measure,  owned  of  God,  though  /  am 
nothing.  I  still  think  the  work  of  the  ministry  the 
most  noble  of  all  works.  My  largest  desires  are  satis- 
fied with  the  prospect  of  preaching  Christ." 

It  was  no  ambition  to  be  known  as  a  city-minister 
that  induced  him  to  take  up  his  residence  in  New-York. 
His  inclinations  were  strongly  in  favor  of  his  beloved 
New-England,  and  especially  of  Fairfield,  where  the 
hearts  of  the  people  were  already  his,  and  where  he 
might  have  expected  a  very  comfortable  situation.  But 
his  heart  was  on  the  missionary  work.  He  would  have 
gone  into  the  region  of  Buffalo,  then  al^nost  a  w^ilder- 
ness,  and  labored  cheerfully  among  the  backwoodsmen 
to  win  souls  to  Christ.  A  wider  field  and  more  press- 
ing need  opened  before  him  in  New-York,  and  con- 
strained him  to  forego  long-cherished  inclinations  and 
to  engage  in  a  w^ork  of  peculiar  self-denial ; — a  work, 
as  the  Missionary  Society  then  described  it,  "  accom- 
panied by  more  deprivations,  and  greater  self-denial, 
than  the  usual  routine  of  duty  on  our  frontier  settle- 
ments." 

This  change  of  destination  was,  in  a  great  measure, 
owing  also  tp  the  representations  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Staf- 
ford, his  former  associate  in  college,  who  had  for 
nearly  two  years  been  laboring  in  this  most  forbidding 
field,  and  to  whose  exertions  the  Female  Missionary 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  179 

Society,  already  mentioned,  owed  its  origin.  They 
were  members  of  the  same  household,  and  daily  con- 
ferred and  prayed  together  in  relation  to  Mr.  B.'s  duty. 
Mr.  Stafford  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  procure  a 
helper,  and  spared  no  pains  to  represent  to  him  the  de- 
plorable condition  of  the  people  for  whose  welfare  he 
was  laboring.  He  took  him  upon  the  ground,  entered 
with  him  into  the  abodes  of  poverty  and  infamy, 
showed  him  their  ignorance  of  God,  and  disregard  for 
man.  And  it  was  enough.  He  resolved  upon  the 
work,  and  gave  himself  to  it  without  delay. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

The  scene  of  his  labors.- — Changes  his  location. — Description  of 
his  new  field  of  labor. — Early  Missionary  efforts  there. — Ron- 
tine  of  weekly  labors. — Cheering  results  of  his  preaching. — 
Unexpected  trials. — Organization  of  the  Seventh  Presbyterian 
Church. 

The  labors  of  Mr.  Baldwin  were  at  first  directed  to 
that  portion  of  the  city  lying  to  the  east  of  Pearl-street, 
and  the  Bowery,  extending  along  the  East  River,  above 
Peck-slip.  A  dense  population  inhabited  the  lower 
part  of  this  district.  In  an  area  of  less  than  90  rods 
square,  it  was  computed  that  there  were  then  not  less 
than  8,000  or  9,000  souls.  "  A  great  proportion  of 
the  people  were  crowded  together  from  4  to  12  fami- 
lies in  a  house,  often  two  or  three  in  a  room,  and  those 
of  all  colors.  With  these  houses  the  ground  was  almost 
completely  covered."  Houses  of  infamy  were  thickly 
clustered  together  within  this  space,  and  hither  resorted 


180  MEMOIR    OF 

the  dissolute,  the  abandoned,  and  the  victims  of  prosti- 
tution. Scattered  among  these  habitations  here  and 
there  might  be  found  a  worthy  family,  who  dwelt  in 
such  a  region  rather  from  necessity  than  from  choice. 
But  like  Lot  of  old,  they  had  their  abode  in  Sodom. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  1816,  that  the  Rev.  Ward 
Stafford,  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Mills  of  sainted  mem- 
ory, explored  this  field,  and  disclosed  to  their  fellow- 
Christians  its  abominations  and  desolations.  Here  the 
former  succeeded  in  procuring  the  erection  of  a  house 
of  worship,  in  Bancker  (now  Madison)  street,  near 
Catharine-street,  in  the  very  midst  of  these  abodes  of 
vice.  The  house  was  called  the  Union  Mission  church, 
and  was  afterwards  removed  to  Allen-street,  near 
Grand,  and  known  as  the  Allen-street  Presbyterian 
church. 

Mr.  Baldwin  having  been  introduced  to  this  field  in 
the  manner  already  stated,  without  further  delay,  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  preaching  the  gospel  from  house 
to  house,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Mission  church. 
In  a  communication  to  the  corresponding  secretary  of 
the  Missionary  Society,  dated  Nov.  15,  he  gives  the 
following  account  of  his  exertions  : 

"  My  active  labors,  in  the  service  of  your  Society, 
commenced  about  the  middle  of  October.  They  have 
been  expended  mostly  on  the  people  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Union  Free  Church,  but  not  confined  to  them.  I 
have  held  several  religious  meetings  in  Mott  and  Mul- 
berry-streets, and  some  in  places  more  distant.  My 
visits  to  the  sick  have  been  equally  extended,  though  I 
have  considered  it  my  duty  to  pass  by  such  as  are  con- 
nected with  any  particular  religious  denomination.  I 
cannot  say  how  many  religious  visits  I  have  made,  as 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  181 

my  time  is  too  much  devoted  to  this  species  of  labor  to 
keep  the  account.  I  have  conducted  from  twenty  to 
thirty  religious  services,  in  most  of  which  I  have  either 
preached  or  lectured. 

"  In  the  course  of  my  labors,  many  affecting  instances 
of  ignorance  and  depravity  have  been  observed,  a  de- 
scription of  which  would  be  little  more  than  a  repetition 
of  what  is  already  known  to  you.  The  following  ex- 
tract from  my  journal  will  exhibit  a  specimen  of  the 
ignorance  with  which  I  frequently  meet : 

"  JVov.  4.  Have  conversed  to-day  with  several  per- 
sons of  an  interesting  description.  One  of  them,  a 
sprightly  colored  man,  discovered  much  interest  in  the 
subject  of  religion,  at  the  same  time  that  he  betrayed 
great  ignorance  of  it.  He  had  acknowledged  that  he 
felt  himself  to  be  a  sinner  in  the  sight  of  God. — On 
being  asked, — '  How  do  you  expect  to  escape  the  pun- 
ishment due  to  your  sins'?'  he  replied,  '  I  hope  to  do 
better  in  time  to  come.'  He  was  told  that  future  obe- 
dience would  not  compensate  for  past  transgression. 
He  perceived  at  once  the  force  of  the  reasoning,  and 
the  straits  to  which  it  reduced  him  ;  but  no  way  of 
escaping  the  difficulty  presented  itself  to  his  mind.  He 
could  only  say,  '  I  never  before  heard  such  things ; — if 
they  are  true,  I  do  not  see  what  will  become  of  the 
generality  of  people.  Fori  suppose  that  most  persons 
at  least,  have,  at  some  period  of  their  life,  been  guilty 
of  many  sins.'  He  was  directed  to  '  the  Lamb  of  God 
that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world.'  On  my  leav- 
ing his  house,  he  followed  me  to  the  street,  with  many 
thanks  for  the  '  information'  I  had  given  him,  and  a 
request  that  I  would  repeat  the  visit. 

"  The  case  of  this  person  is,  perhaps,  a  little  pecu- 


182  MEMOIR   OF 

liar,  so  far  as  it  respects  his  ignorance  of  the  fact,  that 
a  Savior  has  been  provided  for  lost  men,  though  not 
entirely  so.  As  it  respects  the  way  of  salvation  by 
Jesus  Christ,  he  knew  as  much  about  it  as  many  of  the 
poor  in  his  vicinity.  While  most  of  them  speak  of 
Christ  as  a  Savior,  the  majority  expect  salvation  by 
their  good  works,  (which,  by  the  way,  are  not  super- 
latively good,)  as  really  and  entirely,  as  the  pagans  of 
India." 

But  there  was  much  to  embarrass  him.  His  friends 
at  Fairfield  still  continued  to  press  their  claims,  and  to 
urge  hira  to  become  their  pastor,  with  the  prospect  of 
a  fair  temporal  support.  In  the  mean  time  he  found 
that  his  remuneration  from  the  Missionary  Society, 
though  sufficient  in  a  country-residence,  would  barely 
afford  him  the  means  of  support  in  the  city,  without 
enabling  him  to  discharge  his  few  debts.  "  I  did  not 
come  hither,"  he  remarks  on  the  subject,  "  to  accumu- 
late property.  God  forbid  that  I  should  be  greedy  of 
gain.  But  I  must  be  careful  to  meet  punctually  the 
just  demands  of  my  creditors.  In  this  way  I  must '  pro- 
vide things  honest  in  the  sight  of  all  men.'  " 

These  difficulties  led  him  to  use  the  foUowins  Ian- 
guage :  "  My  mind  has  been  too  much  distracted  by  my 
situation  to  be  greatly  fixed  on  my  work.  Alas !  my 
leanness,  my  leanness!  May  the  all-sufficient  God 
qualify  me  for  this  good  work  and  engage  me  heartily 
in  it." 

A  kind  Providence  soon  cleared  up  his  path.  Under 
date  of  Nov.  9,  he  says,  "  I  find  my  continuance  here, 
or  at  least  in  (his  part  of  the  city,  somewhat  uncertain. 
Brother  Aikin  has  received  an  invitation  to  preach  as  a 
candidate  in  Utica,  New-York,  and  will  probably  leave 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  183 

Mr.  Alkin,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  engaged  in 
the  preceding  April  to  labor,  at  the  expiration  of  his 
preparatory  course  in  the  ensuing  autumn,  among  the 
destitute  in  this  city.  He  was  stationed,  on  his  arrival 
early  in  October,  "in  that  part  of  the  city,  usually 
known  by  the  name  of  Corlaer^s  Hook.'' 

This  region  lay  beyond  the  city  proper,  from  which 
it  was  separated  by  high,  uncultivated,  and  rough  hills. 
Here  and  there  was  seen  beyond  or  upon  the  hills,  a 
single  house,  or  a  separate  cluster  of  homely  dwellings. 
*'  The  moral  character  of  the  neighborhood  answered 
very  exactly  to  the  rudeness  of  its  aspect.  Distance 
and  separation  from  the  improved  sections  of  the  city 
supplied  a  natural  apology  for  the  neglect  of  Christian 
ordinances.  Not  a  fourth  part,  probably,  of  the  popu- 
lation visited  regularly  any  house  of  worship." 

There  were  four  considerable  settlements  in  this  sec- 
tion, known,  one  as  "  Corlaer's  Hook,''  another  as 
"  Grand-street  Market,"  at  the  foot  of  Grand-street, 
another  as  "  Stag-town,"  and  the  other  as  "  Manhattan 
Island."  These  settlements  had  mostly  sprung  up  du- 
ring the  recent  war  with  Great  Britain.  The  latter 
was  about  half  a  mile  to  the  north  of  Corlaer's  Hook, 
and  was  approached  by  a  bridge,  rendered  necessary  at 
high  water,  by  the  influx  of  the  tide.  The  neighbor- 
hood of  Corlaer's  Hook  had  already  become  noted  as  a 
resort  for  the  lewd  and  abandoned  of  both  sexes.  It 
was  estimated  that  these  settlements  included  at  that 
time  about  six  thousand  souls. 

So  late  even  as  October,  1821,  this  region  is  spoken 
of  as  follows  :  "  Let  us  look  at  New-York,  especially 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Bancker-street,  Walnut-street, 
Corlaer's  Hook,  Stag-town,  Manhattan  Island,  &c.   In 


184  MEMOIR    OF 

these  districts  we  are  free  to  assert,  may  be  found  every 
species  of  vice  and  abomination  ;  and  if  they  have  not 
gods  of  wood  and  stone,  they  have  passions  to  which 
they  bow  with  as  much  ignorance  and  depravity  as  the 
very  worst  caste  of  foreign  heathen.  Here  we  have 
streets  abounding  every  night  with  preconcerted  groups 
of  thieves  and  prostitutes.  Frequently  the  newspapers 
contain  accounts  of  persons  decoyed  and  ruined.  Here 
are  squares,  courts,  lanes  and  alleys  where  persons  ob- 
tain a  living  by  regularly  seducing  and  training  up  the 
very  youngest  persons  of  both  sexes  to  robbery  and 
prostitution.  Here  are  public-houses,  ball-rooms,  club- 
houses, coifee-houses  and  brothels,  that  (we  can  chal- 
lenge the  whole  world  to  prove  otherwise)  will  equal, 
if  not  exceed,  al)  the  herds  of  guilt,  wretchedness  and 
crime,  that  ever  met  together  in  the  worst  temples  of 
the  heathen,  or  in  the  worship  of  Venus  or  Bacchus,  in 
the  most  abandoned  ages  of  pagan  ignorance  and  im- 
morality." Deplorable  indeed  must  have  been  the 
morals  of  these  neighborhoods,  to  have  warranted  such  a 
dark  picture  from  the  pencil  of  the  "  Christian  Herald." 
(See  vol.  VIIL,  328.) 

During  the  summer  of  1816,  Mr.  Stafford  had 
"preached  on  Manhattan  Island  at  the  ship-yards, in  a 
room  kindly  furnished  by  the  Messrs.  Browns,"  who 
were  then  extensively  engaged  in  Ghip-buildmg.  A  ball- 
room, too,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Corlaer's  Hook,  was 
obtained  about  the  same  time,  through  the  influence  of 
a  pious  magistrate,  where  he  preached  for  several 
Sabbaths,  with  an  increasing  attendance.  Owing  to 
the  representations  of  others  engaged  like  the  owner  in 
an  infamous  calling,  the  room  was  shortly  after  closed, 
but  not  without  evidence  of  good  results. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  185 

A  Sunday-School  was  organized  not  far  from  the 
same  time,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Grand-street  mar- 
ket. A  Mr.  Robert  Nelson,  of  the  Wesleyan  connec- 
tion in  England,  having  witnessed  the  good  results  of 
Sunday-School  instruction  in  his  native  country,  in- 
duced, soon  after  his  arrival  here,  some  few  Christian 
friends  to  unite  with  him  in  the  organization  of  a  school 
in  that  section  of  the  city.  The  school  was  opened  in 
a  large  room,  used  at  times  for  a  ball-room,  in  an  old 
farm-house  belonging  to  the  Cannon-family,  and  front- 
ed the  East  River,  on  what  is  now  known  as  Goerck- 
street,  about  midway  between  Grand  and  Broome- 
streets.  Here,  too,  Mr.  Stafford  was  accustomed  to 
lecture  occasionally  to  those  who  could  be  persuaded 
to  hear  the  gospel. 

Mr.  Aikin  was  the  first  missionary  to  whom  this 
field  of  ministerial  labor  was  assigned.  The  hope  was 
entertained  and  expressed  at  the  time,  "  that  with  due 
encouragement  from  the  friends  of  the  Society,  a  re- 
spectable congregation  might  be  formed  at  no  distant 
period."  Under  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Aikin,  "some 
instances  of  seriousness,  through  the  divine  blessing  on 
his  labors,"  appeared,  sufficient  to  encourage  the  Soci- 
ety in  their  purpose  of  "  continuing,  and  if  possible 
increasing  their  efforts"  in  this  region. 

When,  therefore,  Mr.  Aikin  determined  to  remove 
to  Utica,  the  Society  directed  Mr.  Baldwin  to  succeed 
him  in  that  promising  field.  He  accordingly  removed 
and  commenced  his  labors  there  on  Tuesday,  Novem- 
ber 11,  1817.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the 
school-room  in  Goerck-street,  as  introductory  to  a 
weekly  service,  from  Acts  17:  30,  "  The  times  of  this 
ignorance  God  winked  at :  but  now  commandeth  all 


186  MEMOIR   OF 

men  everywhere  to  repent."  Of  this  service  he  re- 
marks— "  The  number  of  my  auditors  consisted  of  15 
individuals.  One  of  them  attributed  her  first  permanent 
rehprious  impressions  to  this  introductory  service." 

On  the  22d,  he  records  the  fact  of  his  removal,  and 
his  consequent  feelings,  in  his  journal :  "  Am  at  length 
removed  to  Corlaer's  Hook,  where  I  have  taken  lodg- 
ings in  Mr.  B.'s  family.  My  mind  is  now  more  at  rest 
respecting  my  future  course.  I  have  a  large  and  in- 
teresting field  about  me  ;  but  I  need  much  wisdom  and 
zeal,  and  strength  to  cultivate  it.  Yet  I  am  not  with- 
out cheering  hopes.  My  lecture  on  Friday-evening 
was  thinly  attended,  but  it  was  unusually  solemn. 
Several  wept.  I  have  found  one  person  to-day,  who 
appeared  much  affected  w^ith  a  sense  of  his  lost  state. 
I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  my  first  attempts  here 
have  made  a  favorable  impression.  Oh  that  the  Lord 
would  come  down  and  dwell  in  the  midst  of  this  peo- 
ple !  I  know  that  I  am  not  w^orthy  to  be  the  instru- 
ment of  salvation  to  one  soul,  much  less,  to  multitudes. 
But  I  do  desire  it.  If  I  am  not  deceived,  I  take  an  interest 
in  the  salvation  of  souls,  because  they  are  infinitely  pre- 
cious, and  because  it  would  redound  to  the  honor  and 
glory  of  God. 

"  My  religious  feehngs  during  the  two  weeks  past, 
have  been  unsteady,  but,  for  the  most  part,  low.  I 
have  not  resisted  the  beginnings  of  evil.  Consequently 
my  conscience  has  been  often  wounded,  and  my  joys 
marred.  Thursday  was  our  Fast,  and,  I  think  I  can 
say,  a  good  season  to  my  soul.  Since  that  time  my 
mind  has  been  in  a  comparatively  tranquil  state.  This 
evening  it  is  glowing  wdth  love.  Yes,  I  do  feel  a  sat- 
isfaction in  religion  ;  a  joy  arising  from  a  sense  of  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  187 

glorious  perfections  of  God  and  the  gracious  salvation 
of  the  gospel,  which  surpasses  all  worldly  gratifica- 
tions. I  think  that  I  can  say, — *  Here  am  I,  Lord  !  do 
with  me  as  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight.' 

"  My  most  besetting  sin,  the  first  and  the  last  of  my 
misery  and  disgrace,  is  the  indulgence  of  a  selfish  spirit. 
I  live  for  myself.  I  preach,  and  pray,  and  converse  for 
myself.  How  justly  should  I  be  left  to  myself,  in  re- 
gard to  enjoyment  and  hope." 

An  upper  room  was  shortly  after  obtained  on  the 
north  side  of  Broome-street,  between  Columbia  and 
Cannon-streets,  on  the  block  west  of  Cedar- grove,  the 
residence  of  the  venerable  Col.  Willett.  To  this  he 
alludes  in  the  following  records  : 

"Saturday  evenings  JYovember  29,  1817.  Have 
preached  once  in  this  vicinity,  and  once  in  Bancker- 
street,  during  the  week.  Both  lectures  were  well  at- 
tended. The  number  of  those  who  assemble,  in  this 
neighborhood  especially,  appears  to  be  on  the  increase. 
I  have  found  much  this  week  to  encourage  me  in  my 
labors,  though  no  special  attention  to  religion,  as  yet, 
is  observed.  I  have  visited  many  families  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  my  hired  room  in  Broome-street,  and  have 
been  generally  received  with  much  kindness.  I  have 
also,  during  the  week,  had  opportunity  to  address  some 
persons  of  the  vilest  character,  (of  Walnut-street,)  on 
the  subject  of  religion.  And  I  am  not  without  evidence 
that  a  sting  was  left  in  the  conscience  of  one  or  more." 

The  following  extracts  from  his  diary  will  show  in 
what  manner  his  time  was  now  occupied : 

"Friday,  Dec.  19,  1817.  Have  held  a  prayer-meet- 
ing this  evening  at  the  Hook.     The  number  of  persons 


188  MEMOIR    OF 

present  \vas  large,  ami  the  attention  encouraging.  I 
cannot  but  hope  for  better  things. 

"  Saturday  evening.  Meeting  this  evening  at  Bro- 
ther Stafford's  room.  The  weather  has  been  such  as 
to  prevent  a  general  attendance;  but  those  present 
were  uncommonly  serious. 

"  Lord^s  day,  Dec.  21.  Preached  in  the  morning,  at 
the  Mission-House ;  in  the  afternoon  at  the  Hook  ;  and 
in  the  evening  at  Manhattan-Island.  The  day  has 
been  remarkably  cold,  which  kept  many  at  home. 
The  meeting  on  the  Island  was  not  fully  attended,  but 
it  was  solemn. 

"  Monday.  Made  some  religious  visits,  and  attend- 
ed a  prayer-meeting  in  the  evening  at  Stag-town.  But 
few  were  present. 

'*  Tuesday.  Attended  a  funeral  in  the  afternoon,  near 
the  lower  market.  I  made  an  address  to  the  people 
present,  but  without  much  apparent  effect.  A  few, 
however,  wept.  Oh  that  God  would  appear  and  vin- 
dicate his  own  cause  !  I  see  that  without  him  I  can  do 
nothing.  The  meeting  in  the  evening,  in  Scammel- 
street,  was  not  well  attended,  but  I  have  seldom  had 
more  liberty  of  speech.  I  ?\sofelt  that  it  was  good  to 
be  there. 

"  Wednesday.  Attended  the  Methodist  prayer-meet- 
ing this  evening,  and  took  a  part  in  the  exercises.  It 
was,  on  the  whole,  an  interesting  season. 

"  Thursday.  Kept  the  fast  appointed  for  the  success 
of  the  missionaries  at  Brother  S.'s  room.  A  considera- 
ble number  were  present,  and  appeared  to  be  animated 
in  the  good  cause. — In  the  evening  held  a  prayer- 
meeting  at  Mr.  B.'s,  which  was  well  attended  and 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  189 

solemn.  Several  persons  present,  as  I  have  since 
learned,  were  under  religious  impressions.  Two  Meth- 
odist brethren  led  in  prayer,  to  great  acceptance. 

"  Friday.  Preached  a  lecture  on  Manhattan-Island 
this  evening,  instead  of  holding  the  prayer-meeting,  as 
appointed.  A  large  number  "were  present  and  much 
affected.  The  Lord  has  evidently  begun  a  good  work 
in  this  place,  and  it  is  all  his  own.  To  him  be  all  the 
glory.  Two  instances  of  hopeful  conversion  have 
already  occurred,  and  several  more  are  deeply  im- 
pressed with  a  sense  of  their  sinful  character  and  un- 
happy condition.     The  Lord  perfect  his  begun  work. 

"  Saturday,  Went  this  evening  to  Brother  S.'s 
room.  Number  present  considerable,  and  the  meeting 
unusually  solemn. 

"  Lord's  day,  Dec.  28.  Preached  to  the  Sabbath- 
day  scholars,  at  Miss  H.'s  school-room.  It  was  an 
interesting  and  solemn  season.  In  the  afternoon, 
preached  at  the  usual  place  of  worship.  The  number 
present  w^as  not  large,  but  they  were  unusually  atten- 
tive. In  the  evening  found  a  large  and  solemn  assem- 
bly on  Manhattan-Island.  jSi/i/ec^,  —  Paul's  discourse 
before  Felix. 

"  Monday.  Spent  most  of  the  time  down  in  the 
city.  Visited  one  individual  under  religious  impres- 
sions. Attended  a  meeting  in  the  evening  at  Stag- 
town,  which  was  more  than  usually  solemn.  Every 
thing  relating  to  rehgion  here,  appears  as  yet  in  a 
promising  state.  It  can  no  longer  be  doubted  whether 
or  not  the  Lord  has  begun  a  good  work  in  this  place. 

"  Tuesday.  Weather  unpleasant.  I  visited,  how- 
ever, a  few  families,  and  went  in  the  evening  to  the 


190  MEMOIR   OF 

place  where  a  meeting  had  been  appointed,  but  found 
none  assembled. 

"  Wednesday.  Visited  several  families  to-day,  and 
attended  a  meeting  this  evening  at  Mrs.  I.'s.  The 
number  who  were  present  w^as  considerable,  but  they 
w^ere  chiefly  females.  It  appeared  as  though  the  Lord 
W'as  present  by  his  Spirit.  There  are  sufficient  indica- 
tions that  God  is  ready  to  pour  out  his  Spirit  upon  this 
great  city.  May  his  people  be  prepared  to  receive 
such  a  blessing. 

"  Visited  in  the  afternoon  an  old  negro  woman,  who 
has  been  thought,  for  some  time,  to  be  near  her  end. 
Found  her  confined  to  her  bed,  but  not  so  sick  as  I  had 
expected.  On  my  entering  the  room  she  told  me  that 
she  knew  who  I  was.  '  You  are  the  person  who  keeps 
meeting  at  the  next  house.  Me  glad,  me  thank  you 
for  coming  to  see.'  I  asked  her  how^  she  did.  She 
replied—*  Well,  very  well ;  have  all  I  want.'  Having 
been  asked  whether  she  was  happy  or  not,  she  an- 
sw^ered  wdth  great  emotion, — 'Yes— happy  enough — 
can't  be  more  happy — full  of  happiness  ; — wish  all 
were  as  happy  as  L'  She  proceeded  to  say  something 
about  her  finding  Jesus.  I  asked  her  whether  she 
loved  him  or  not.  '  Oh  !  yes,'  said  she,  raising  her 
eyes  to  heaven,  *  I  do  love  him.  I  sought  him  long, 
and  I  have  got  hold  of  him.  He  came  to  me  in  the 
night  all  at  once,  put  away  all  my  pain,  (putting  her 
hand  on  her  breast,)  and  make  me  happy.  He  is 
always  talking  to  me — he  is  with  me  always.  I  hold 
him  fast.' , 

"  On  being  asked  whether  or  not  she  desired  to  go 
and  be  with  Jesus,  where  he  is,  she  said, — *  I  shall  not 


REV.    LR.    BALDWIN.  191 

go  yet,  but  I  am  ready  to  go  when  he  call  me.  I  am 
ready.'  *  Do  you,'  said  I,  '  pray  to  Jesus  for  others 
that  they  may  find  him  too  V  '  Yes,'  said  she, '  I  pray 
always  for  all,  and  he  hears  me,  and  says — pray  on — 
more  coming — pray  on.'  I  told  her  that  she  must 
pray  much  for  poor  sinners  and  others,  and  then 
stepped  from  her  bedside  to  the  fire.  1  had  no  sooner 
left  her,  than  she  clasped  her  hands,  and,  raising  them 
towards  heaven,  began  her  supplication  : — '  Lord  Je- 
sus !  let  more  come  to  thee — let  more  be  coming ; — 
take  all  ; — heaven  big  place  enough.  Let  them  come 
in.'  I  prayed  with  her  and  left  her,  not  without  won- 
der at  the  richness  of  divine  grace  as  displayed  in  this 
illiterate  saint.  She  knows  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ ; 
yet  I  would  rather  have  her  knowledge  and  her  happi- 
ness than  those  of  the  most  exalted  earthly  potentate. 
Her  feelings  were  sublime. 

"  Thursday,  Jan.  1,  1818.  Attended  a  prayer-meet- 
ing at  Brother  S.'s  room.  The  number  that  assembled 
was  very  considerable.  In  the  evening  we  had  a 
meeting  for  prayer  at  Miss  H.'s,  which,  though  not 
numerously  attended,  was  interesting  and  solemn. 

"  Friday.  Preached  in  the  evening  for  Mr.  Spring. 
Brother  S.  attended  the  prayer -meeting  on  the  Island, 
which  was  numerous  and  solemn. 

"  Saturday.  Held  in  the  evening,  a  family  prayer- 
meeting  in  my  room,  at  which  were  present  the  Messrs. 
B.'s  families,  together  with  a  few  neighbors. 

"  Sabbath,  Jan.  4,  1818.  Preached  in  the  afternoon 
at  Mr.  S.'s  room,  and  in  the  evening  on  the  Island. 
The  people  in  both  places  appeared  unusually  solemn. 
There  are  many  instances  of  conviction ;  we  hope  to 


192  MEMOIR   OF 

see  numerous  conversions.  Christians  are  awake  and 
very  harmonious. 

"  Monday.  Made  many  visits  in  the  course  of  the 
day ;  and  in  the  evening  attended  the  concert  of  prayer 
at  Capt.  M.'s  house.  It  was  numerous  and  solemn. 
The  work  of  God  appears  to  go  on  prosperously." 

In  this  diligent  occupation  of  his  time  he  was  greatly 
cheered  by  the  evident  presence  of  the  Divine  Spirit. 
The  above  extracts  show  how,  from  small  and  gloomy 
beginnings,  his  several  congregations  were  enlarged, 
enlightened,  and  refreshed.  Under  date  of  Decem- 
ber 27,  1817,  he  expresses  himself  more  at  length  on 
this  topic : 

"  The  Lord  has  been  doing  great  things  for  me.  I 
can  now  sincerely  thank  him  for  sending  me  to  this 
great  city ;  and  especially,  for  placing  me  in  this  part 
of  it.  The  family  in  \vhich  I  live  are  extremely  kind 
to  me ;  and,  what  is  more,  not  a  little  alive  to  the  good 
cause.  I  find  around  me  a  most  interesting  field  for 
labor.  The  w^ork,  too,  is  congenial  with  my  feelings. 
I  love  *  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  Christ.'  It  would 
be  ungrateful  for  me  to  conceal  it,  that  God  does  over- 
look my  unworthiness  so  far,  as  to  afford  me  many 
precious  seasons  of  communion  with  him.  I  often  find 
the  place,  to  which  I  go  to  worship  with  this  people, 
'  none  other  but  the  house  of  God' — '  the  gate  of 
heaven.' 

"  Last  evening  I  attended  a  meeting  at  Brother  S.'s 
room,  and  while  there,  found  my  soul  drawn  out  in 
holy  aspirations  after  the  heavenly  rest.  I  looked  for- 
ward with  joy  to  the  day  of  release,  when  I,  too,  shall 
mount  up  on  high  to  meet  the  Lord  ;  when  I,  too,  shall 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  193 

stand  on  Mount  Zion  above,  and  singj  '  the  sons:  of 
Moses  and  the  Lamb.' 

"  I  now  clearly  perceive  that  the  favor  of  God  is 
enough  for  me.  Let  me  have  his  presence  and  behold 
his  glory,  and  I  desire  no  more.  I  cannot  doubt 
whether  t  have  been  born  of  the  Spirit  of  God  or  not. 
I  do  love  God  and  his  service.  I  do  love  my  Savior 
and  his  disciples.  I  do  pant  after  those  holy  pleasures 
which  are  found  in  their  perfection,  only  at  the  right 
hand  of  God.  This  blessed  assurance  seldom  leaves 
me ;  so  that  I  feel  almost  habitually  prepared  for  the 
conflict  with  the  last  enemy.  And  often  my  soul  says, 
*■  Come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly.' 

"  These  feelings  and  this  assurance  do  not,  however, 
flow  from  a  persuasion  of  my  own  excellence.  No,  *  I 
find  a  law,  that  when  I  would  do  good  evil  is  present 
with  me.'  My  sins  are  multiplied.  I  have  so  much 
sloth,  so  many  evil  prejudices,  so  many  corrupt  desires, 
and  so  much  indifference  to  the  honor  of  Christ,  and 
the  salvation  of  precious  souls,  that  I  wonder  at  the 
grace  afforded  me.  Verily,  0  my  God  !  it  is  an  eter- 
nal proof  of  thy  patient  forbearance.  1  am  the  very 
chiefest  of  sinners. 

"  My  labors  in  this  vicinit}^,  appear  to  be  blessed  to 
some.  There  are  a  few  instances  of  hopeful  conver- 
sion, and  many  more  of  deep  religious  impressions.  / 
expect  great  things.  From  the  interest  taken  in  meet- 
ings, it  is  manifest  that  the  Spirit  of  God  is  already  ex- 
tensively operating,  and  we  hope  that  its  operations  will 
increase  and  become  effectual.  To  thee.  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther !  do  we  look,  to  accomplish  this  great  work.  With- 
out thee,  thy  ministers  can  do  nothing.  Without  thee 
the  prayers  of  thy  people,  and  their  active  exertions,  will 

9 


194  MEMOIR   OF 

terminate  in  disappointment.  But  with  thy  assistance 
and  thy  blessing,  they  will  contend  manfully  and  with 
success ;  will  go  on  conquering,  till  the  kingdom  and 
the  greatness  of  it  under  the  whole  heaven  shall  be 
given  them." 

In  this  happy  state  of  communion  with  God  and 
with  such  divine  encouragement  in  his  work,  he  closed 
the  year.  In  entering  upon  the  ensuing  year,  he  sol- 
emnly review^s  the  past  and  renew^s  his  consecration  to 
the  service  of  the  great  Redeemer,  pledging  himself  to 
"  be  more  watchful  over  his  conduct  and  feehngs,  and 
more  constant  and  earnest  in  prayer  to  Almighty  God 
that  he  would  shed  abroad  his  divine  love  into  his 
heart,  and  give  success  to  all  his  efforts  in  the  cause  of 
the  Redeemer."     This  is  follow^ed  by  renewed  grace  : 

"  January  3.  I  still  see  much  in  my  life  and  heart 
which  must  be  offensive  to  a  holy  God ;  but  I  cannot 
o-reatly  doubt,  whether  or  not  I  love  the  Savior  and  the 
prosperity  of  his  cause.  For  some  time  past,  I  have 
had  no  anxiety  respecting  my  own  salvation.  '  Oh  ! 
to  grace  how  great  a  debtor  !'  Yes,  I  do  love  Jesus 
and  his  work ; — I  hope  erelong  to  be  with  him  where 
he  is,  that  I  may  see  him  as  he  is.  But  I  would  be 
patient.  '  All  the  days  of  my  appointed  time  will  I 
wait,  till  my  change  come.'     But,  Oh  !  if  it  might  be 

soon  ! 

"  Jan.  17,  1818.  Cannot  easily  doubt  whether  I 
love  Jesus  Christ  and  his  cause  or  not.  I  frequently 
wonder  that  God  should  allow^  me  to  take  so  much  in- 
terest and' find  so  much  enjoyment,  in  his  work.  I 
have  sinned  much  and  grievously  of  late;  and  am  very 
unworthy  to  speak  of  salvation  to  those  around  me, 
much  more,  to  preach   the  everlasting  gospel.     Yet 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  195 

God  allows  me  to  do  it,  and,  as  it  seems  to  me,  affords 
me  the  assistance  of  his  Spirit;  he  certainly  does  allow 
me  to  see  his  work  go  forward  prosperously.  As  many 
as  ten  persons  have,  since  I  came  hither,  apparently 
been  converted  to  God ;  and  many  more  are  mider  re- 
ligious impressions.  We  hope  that  the  work  will  go 
forward.     It  is  wholly  the  Lord's." 

In  a  communication  to  the  Missionary  Board,  Feb.  4, 
1818,  he  speaks  of  the  whole  field  of  his  labors  most 
encouragingly  : 

"  Soon  after  my  removal  hither,  our  little  assemblies 
began  to  exhibit  unequivocal  tokens  of  the  Divine  pres- 
ence. The  professors  of  religion  who  attended,  were 
refreshed  ;  became  more  animated  in  their  Christian 
course,  and  more  interested  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 
Some  few  were  brought  to  a  painful  sense  of  their  de- 
parture from  God;  and,  to  use  their  own  language, 
were  a  second  time  converted  from  the  error  of  their 
ways.  Nearly  at  the  same  time,  several  persons,  who 
had  lived  in  utter  thoughtlessness  of  God  and  eternity, 
were  awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  awful  depravity,  and 
of  the  everlasting  destruction  to  which  it  exposed  them. 
The  work  gradually  increased  till  within  a  few  days  ; 
since  which  time  it  has  apparently  come  to  a  stand. 
As  many  as  12  persons  afford  satisfactory  evidence  of 
their  having  truly  embraced  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
several  others  are  under  religious  impressions.  Attend- 
ance on  the  means  of  grace  is  still  increasing  ;  Chiis- 
tians  appear  to  be  on  the  alert ;  and  we  cannot  but 
hope  that  this  people  may  yet  witness  such  a  work  of 
Divine  grace  as  shall  force  even  the  enemies  of  religion 
to  exclaim — '  What  hath  God  wrought  V  " 

At  the  same  time  he  called  the  attention  of  the  Board 


196  MEMOIR   OF 

to  the  deplorable  condition  of  the  numerous  abandoned 
females  that  were  found  within  the  sphere  of  his  labors, 
and  suggested  to  them  the  expediency  of  some  provis- 
ion whereby  those  of  them  who  were  disposed  to  reform 
might  be  furnished  with  an  asylum,  or  place  of  retreat 
from  their  abodes  of  infamy. 

The  question  had  already  been  agitated  by  the  little 
flock,  to  whom  Mr.  Baldwin  preached, — "  Why  may 
we  not  be  organized  into  a  church  of  Christ,  and  enjoy 
the  appointed  ordinances  of  the  Lord's  house  ?"  The 
matter  was  committed  to  the  wisdom  of  those  who  had 
sent  the  missionary  into  this  now  promising  field.  On 
the  4th  of  February,  a  committee,  of  which  the  Rev. 
M.  L.  R.  Perrine,  pastor  of  the  Spring-street  church, 
was  chairman,  was  appointed  "  to  inquire  into  the  ex- 
pediency of  immediately  organizing  a  church  at  Cor- 
ner's Hook." 

In  a  letter,  dated  March  1st,  1818,  he  writes  to  a 
friend — "  It  is  now  a  question  with  us  whether  a  church 
shall,  or  shall  not,  be  formed  immediately,  to  be  under 
the  fostering  care  of  the  Evangelical  Society  of  Young 
Men.  There  is  a  sufficient  number  of  persons  here  to 
constitute  it,  and  Providence  seems  to  point  to  its  for- 
mation. Perhaps  the  measure  would  not  meet  with 
much  opposition.  It  certainly  would  not,  if  it  were 
not  for  the  unhappy  divisions  among  Christians  in  this 
city.  How  true  is  it,  that  a  '  house  divided  against 
itself  cannot  stand.'  The  Methodists  and  Baptists  in 
this  city  are  carrying  all  before  them  ;  evidently  be- 
cause they  are  united  in  their  efforts.  On  them  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  poured  out. — Yes,  it  is  manifest  from 
what  we  see,  that  God  will  not  succeed  the  efforts  of 
the  contentious." 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  197 

He  speaks  of  the  same  difficulties  in  his  journal : 
"  March  7.  Still  at  the  Hook,  and  still  allowed  to  see 
the  work  of  God,  in  some  measure,  prosperous  here. 
More  than  15  persons  profess  to  have  experienced  a 
change  of  heart  since  my  labors  commenced,  and  I 
think  that  some  others  are  inquiring.  In  the  mean  time 
I  meet  with  some  trials.  We  have,  for  some  time  past, 
had  it  in  contemplation  to  form  a  church  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, with  a  view  to  collect  a  congregation  and 
erect  a  house  of  worship.  But  this  object  is  likely  to 
fail  of  being  effected,  through  the  contentions  of  the 
two  societies  that  employ  missionaries  in  this  city.  I 
think,  however,  that  I  can  this  evening,  leave  it  all  with 
God  to  determine. 

*  The  Lord  can  clear  the  darkest  skies, 
Can  give  us  day  for  night.'  " 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  unhappy 
controversy  which  sprung  up  in  the  Young  Men's 
New- York  Missionary  Society.  The  difficulties  con- 
tinued to  exist  after  the  division,  and  were  felt  for 
years.  No  sooner  had  the  Evangelical  Society  re- 
solved upon  employing  a  missionary  in  the  suburbs  of 
the  city,  than  the  other  society  came  to  the  same  de- 
termination. When  Mr.  Aikin  commenced  his  labors 
at  Corlaer's  Hook,  Mr.  Philips  was  located  in  the  same 
neighborhood.  When  Mr.  Baldwin  succeeded  Mr. 
Aikin,  Mr.  John  E.  Miller  was  sent  to  occupy  the 
place  vacated  by  Mr.  Philips.  Mr.  Miller  continued 
his  labors  until  March  1st,  preaching  on  the  Sabbath 
in  the  Henry-street  Free  School,  and  on  Wednesday 
evening  in  Norfolk-street,  near  Grand-street. 


198  MEMOIR    OF 

At  the  Anniversary  of  the  old  Society  in  December, 
more  than  a  thousand  dollars  were  subscribed  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  "  a  spacious  Mission-House,  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  poor  attending  on  the  ministra- 
tions of  Mr.  Miller."  A  further  sum  of  more  than 
eleven  hundred  dollars  was  shortly  after  subscribed, 
and  application  was  made  to  Col.  Rutgers  for  the 
grant  of  a  lot  of  ground  for  that  purpose.  Instead  of 
accepting  his  prompt  offer  of  "  the  donation  of  any 
vacant  land  belonging  to  him,"  (and  his  land  was  cer- 
tainly contiguous  or  nearly  so  to  Mr.  Miller's  preaching 
place,)  they  made  choice  of  a  location  on  the  north 
side  of  Broome-street,  between  Lewis  and  Cannon- 
streets,  and  "  in  the  vicinity,"  not  "  of  Mr.  Miller's 
labors,"  but  of  Mr.  Baldwin's.  The  societies  and 
their  missionaries  -were  thus  brought  into  painful  col- 
lision, and  no  small  part  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  trials  pro- 
ceeded from  this  source. 

It  was  this  determination  on  the  part  of  the  other 
society  to  proceed  to  erect  a  house  for  public  worship 
in  that  neighborhood,  and  the  difficulty  of  securing 
enough  attention  among  such  a  people  to  warrant  the 
erection  of  a  second  similar  building,  that  occasioned 
the  hesitancy  in  the  mind  of  Mr.  Baldwin  in  relation 
to  the  propriety  of  continuing  his  labors  in  that  field. 
The  wisdom  of  the  Directors  of  the  Society,  by  whom 
he  had  been  employed,  had  therefore  been  called  in  to 
the  settlement  of  the  question. 

The  committee,  to  whom  the  question  had  been 
referred,  reported  on  the  fourth  of  March,  1818,  "  that 
from  the  information  which  they  had  received  with 
resfard  to  the  success  which  has  attended  the  labors  of 
our  missionary  in  that  place  ;  the  present  promismg 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  199 

state  of  the  mission  ;  the  number  of  persons  who  have 
lately  given  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart,  and  are 
ready  to  join  in  communion  with  the  church ;  the  at- 
tachment which  they  profess  to  our  missionary,  and 
their  desire  to  receive  from  his  hands  '  the  cup  of  bless- 
ing ;'  the  number  who  are  under  convictions,  and  the 
increasing  number  and  seriousness  of  those  who  attend 
the  preaching  of  the  word  j  the  desire  of  several 
Christians  in  that  neighborhood  that  our  missionary 
would  form  a  church,  and  their  conviction  that  it  would 
serve  the  cause  of  the  gospel ;  and  the  certainty  that 
his  forming  a  church  will  not  interfere  with  any  other 
church  or  religious  society ;  they  are  unanimously  of 
the  opinion  that  it  is  expedient  immediately  to  organ- 
ize a  church  at  Corlaer's  Hook."  The  report  was 
adopted,  and  Mr.  Baldwin  advised  to  go  forward. 

He  entered  upon  the  work  *'  with  fear  and  trem- 
bling." Unnoticed  as  the  whole  proceedings  were  by 
the  world,  to  him  they  were  full  of  interest,  and  preg- 
nant with  consequences  of  no  ordinary  moment.  "  The 
measure,"  he  tells  us,  "  was  long  a  subject  of  solemn 
consideration,  and,  we  believe,  of  fervent  prayer,  pre- 
viously to  its  being  laid  before  the  Boaid  of  Directors 
for  their  advice.  Their  decided  opinion,  while  it  con- 
firmed existing  impressions  in  favor  of  the  measure,  did 
not  induce  precipitancy  in  effecting  it.  Never  have  I, 
on  any  occasion,  observed  greater  anxiety  among 
Christians  to  know  the  will  of  the  Lord,  or  more  ap- 
parent readiness  to  submit  to  it,  however  crossing  to 
natural  inclinations  it  might  be,  when  known.  The 
formation  of  this  church  was  effected  in  circumstances 
which  tried  men's  souls.  The  state  of  things  was  such 
as  almost  necessarily  to  exclude  the  influence  of  world- 


200  MEMOIR   OF 

ly  motives  from  the  transaction,  and  to  enforce  reliance 
on  the  Divine  protection  and  blessing. 

"  With  reference  to  this  subject,  Wednesday,  the 
25th  of  March,  was  observed  by  us  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer.  On  this  occasion  a  considerable  number 
of  people  assembled,  when  the  reasons  for  forming  a 
church  were  stated  at  large,  and  the  Divine  protection 
was  particularly  supplicated.  It  proved  a  season  of 
peculiar  harmony  and  love.  God  appeared  to  fix  his 
seal  to  what  had  already  been  done,  and  to  encourage 
his  people  to  take  the  decisive  step.  The  following 
Friday  was  accordingly  fixed  upon  for  the  formation  of 
the  contemplated  church." 

The  organization  took  place,  March  27thy  in  a  pri- 
vate room  in  Grand-street,  near  Lewis-street,  occupied 
by  the  family  of  Mr.  William  Badeau,  with  whom  Mr. 
Baldwin  resided.  He  was  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Stafford  and  Perrine.  Eleven  individuals,  of  whom  eight 
were  from  the  Rutgers-st.  Presbyterian  church,  one  from 
the  Spring-street  (since  Laight-street)  church,  one  from 
the  Presbyterian  church  in  Catskill,  New- York,  and 
one  from  the  Congregational  church  in  New-London, 
covenanted  with  each  other  and  with  their  God,  to  as- 
sociate together  and  be  known  as  "  the  Seventh  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  the  city  of  New-York."  Five  of 
them  were  of  the  same  household  and  four  only  w^ere 
males. 

The  church  having  been  organized,  nine  others,  all 
females  but  one,  were  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the 
church  on  profession  of  their  faith.  "  Not  one  of  the 
number  brought  to  the  enterprise  either  wealth  or  ex- 
tensive influence.  It  was  a  day  of  small  things.  The 
little  band  trembled  with  apprehension  for  the  result, 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  201 

while  they  rejoiced  in  the  success  they  had  already 
realized."  Years  after,  Mr.  Baldwin  said  of  it,  "  I  shall 
never  forget  that  day.  We  distinctly  understood  that, 
by  our  own  act,  we  then  committed  ourselves  to  an 
enterprise,  for  which  we  possessed  no  adequate  means, 
and  no  certain  assurance  of  succor,  but  in  Him  who 
hears  the  cries  of  his  needy  people.  It  was  a  time  of 
weeping  and  fervent  prayer  to  God,  that  the  infant 
church  might  be  strong  in  the  assurance  of  his  faithful 
promises,  and  prosperous  through  his  saving  power. 
We  presented  our  petition,  not  for  wealth  nor  great 
popularity,  but  for  those  abiding  influences  and  graces 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  would  render  it  a  fountain  of 
life  to  this  section  of  the  city,  and  a  blessing  to  the 
world." 

On  the  day  following  the  organization  of  the  church 
he  thus  writes  :  "  The  Lord  has  been  doing  much  of 
late,  for  this  polluted  place.  The  work  of  his  Spirit 
continues  and  apparently  increases.  Yesterday  a  church 
was  organized  in  this  place. — May  the  God  of  all  grace 
prosper  this  infant  society.  It  is  cast  upon  his  special 
providence.  Father  in  heaven  !  to  thy  fostering  care 
do  I  commit  this  branch  of  thy  visible  church.  If  thou 
engage  for  our  safety  and  prosperity,  we  have  no  cause 
of  fear ;  but  if  thou  desert  us,  the  enemy  will  swallow 
us  up.  Oh !  suffer  not  this  portion  of  thine  heritage 
to  be  wasted.  Is  it  not  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the 
fire  ?  Is  it  not  precious  in  thy  sight,  0  thou  Savior  of 
men  ?  Let  thine  eyes  be  upon  it,  to  observe  its  help- 
lessness and  its  dangers,  let  thine  hand  be  underneath 
it,  for  its  support,  and  thy  Spirit  shed  upon  it,  for  its 
glory  and  its  prosperity.  Let  it  become  a  praise  to  all 
that  are  acquainted  with  it." 
9* 


202 


MEMOIR    OF 


In  the  review  of  this  account  we  are  reminded  very 
forcibly  of  those  beautiful  words  which  the  Spirit  taught 
the  ancient  church  to  sing  as  she  came  "  up  from  the 
wilderness  leaning  upon  her  Beloved :" — "  They  that 
sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy.  He  that  goeth  forth  and 
weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come 
again  with  rejoicing,  bearing  his  sheaves  with  him." 
Thus  it  proved  in  the  present  case,  as  the  subsequent 
history  will  show. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

IMeasnres  taken  to  build  a  house  of  worship. — Visit  to  Durham. 
—  Thinks  of  the  West. — Corner-stone  of  the  church  laid.— A 
rival  house  of  worship  built  near. — Commences  worship  in 
the  basement  of  the  new  church. — Conciliatory  course. — Op- 
position ceases. — A  reviving. — Pecuniary  embarrassments. — 
Marriage. 

It  was  "  a  work  of  faith,  and  a  labor  of  love"  indeed, 
to  which  our  missionary  now  committed  himself.  But 
it  was  just  such  a  work  as  he  delighted  in.  It  was 
neither  praise  nor  emolument  that  he  sought.  He  was 
content  to  be  poor,  and  to  deny  himself  that  he  might 
w-in  souls.  When  he  was  permitted  to  gather  with  his 
little  flock,  in  an  obscure  uppor  room,  around  the  table 
of  the  Lord,  and  there  to  consecrate  to  the  Loid  the 
first-fi'uils  of  his  ministry,  he  possessed  a  joy — a  grati- 
fication— akin  to  that  of  his  Redeemer — the  luxury  of 
doing  good  to  souls. 

A  few  days  after  the  organization  of  the  church,  he 
succeeded  in  formingr  a  reliirious  association  to  be  con- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  203 

nected  with  the  church  as  a  body  corporate.  Feeble 
as  the  congregation  was,  such  was  the  encouragement 
held  out  to  them  in  God's  providence,  that  they  deter- 
mined to  proceed  immediately,  if  practicable,  to  erect 
a  house  of  worship.  They  appealed  to  their  elder  and 
sister-churches  for  aid  in  the  undertaking,  and  by  the 
diligent  and  untiring  exertions  of  their  minister,  liberal 
subscriptions  were  obtained.  The  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  Evangelical  Society  also  opened  a  subscription 
in  aid  of  the  object,  and  individually  took  a  lively  in- 
terest in  the  enterprise. 

In  a  communication  to  the  Board,  May  bth,  he  ob- 
serves,— "  Thus  far  the  Lord  has  helped  us^.  It  is 
manifest  to  those  who  contrast  the  present  moral  con- 
dition of  this  neighborhood  with  its  character  six 
months  ago,  that  God  has  performed  a  work  here 
which  calls  for  the  devout  and  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments of  his  people.  Its  eflfects  are  by  no  means  con- 
fined to  those  individuals  who  are,  in  the  most  import- 
ant sense,  its  subjects.  A  religious  influence  is  becoming 
gradually  more  apparent  and  extensive  among  those 
who  are  not  truly  pious.  Christians  of  other  denomi- 
nations are  excited  to  greater  and  more  successful 
activity.  The  neighborhood  is  acquiring  a  character 
which  is  inducing  respectable  and  pious  famihes  to 
make  it  their  place  of  residence ;  so  that  the  hope  is 
already  indulged  that  this  section  of  the  city  will,  with- 
in a  short  period,  be  numbered  among  the  more  favored 
parts  of  our  Zion.  Several  instances  of  hopeful  con- 
version have  occurred  since  the  date  of  my  last  com- 
munication, and  a  few  individuals  are  now^  under  seri- 
ous impressions.  The  work  is  still  silently  and  gradu- 
ally progressive." 


204  MEMOIR    OF 

May  2d,  he  records  the  following  in  his  diary : — "  I 
am  still  allowed  to  perform  the  duties  of  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  and  with  some  success.  But  I  have  my 
trials.  The  worst  of  all  is  a  heart  perpetually  inclined 
to  wander  from  the  ways  of  righteousness,  and  to  in- 
dulge in  the  most  unworthy  sins.  One  of  my  most 
constant  and  most  grievous  sins  is  sloth.  My  time, 
even  in  this  extensive  field  of  action,  passes  away  un- 
improved. My  habits,  too,  of  indulgence,  need  imme- 
diate and  thorough  correction.  I  have  made  some 
efforts,  but  they  do  not  prove  effectual.  Excess  in 
eating  is  still  a  besetting  and  threatening  sin. 

"  I  have  some  trials  arising  from  the  peculiar  state 
of  this  people ;  especially  from  the  efforts  of  the  Young 
Men's  Missionary  Society,  which  weigh  down  my  spir- 
its. Will  the  blessed  God  appear  for  our  deliverance  ? 
Let  that  Society  and  all  around  us  know,  that  thou 
wilt  vindicate  the  cause  of  the  peaceable." 

Some  of  the  Directors  of  the  Society,  to  which  he 
here  alludes,  had  made  proposals  to  some  of  the  lead- 
ing members  of  the  new  church,  to  contribute  the 
amount  of  funds  already,  or  about  to  be,  raised  by  them 
for  the  erection  of  a  Mission-House,  to  aid  the  Seventh 
church  in  their  attempt  to  build  a  house  of  worship, 
provided  that  the  latter  would  agree  to  receive  a 
preacher  from  their  Society ;  offering  them  at  the 
same  time  the  choice  of  one  from  several  candidates 
whom  they  would  send  to  them  on  probation.  The 
offer  w^as,  to  be  sure,  promptly  rejected  by  the  little 
flock,  but  could  not  fail  deeply  to  affect  and  sensibly 
to  wound  the  feelings  of  one  whose  whole  aim  was  to 
"  follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness." 

Having  now  occupied  nearly  eight  months  in  these 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  205 

unwearied  labors,  he  left  the  city  about  the  first  of 
June,  to  visit  the  scenes  of  his  childhood.  The  follow- 
ing letter  to  his  brother  Sylvester,  written  at  "  Dur- 
ham, June  15,  1818,"  descriptive  of  this  visit,  exhibits 
much  of  the  peculiar  love  which  characterized  him  for 
home  and  kindred.  It  is  given  entire,  as  a  specimen 
of  his  correspondence  at  this  period  with  the  compan- 
ions of  his  youth. 

"  Dear  Brother  : 

"  I  wrote  father  a  letter,  a  short  time  before  I  left 
New-York.  I  took  my  passage  on  board  the  steam- 
boat, the  last  day  of  May,  and  spent  the  first  Sabbath 
in  Montgomery,  sixty  miles  up  the  river.  The  people 
of  that  place  have  been  for  some  years  destitute  of  a 
settled  minister.  I  supplied  their  pulpit  one  Sabbath, 
preached  a  lecture  on  the  following  Monday,  and  then 
proceeded  on  my  way  to  Catskill,  where  I  arrived, 
Tuesday  night.  I  found  my  acquaintance  in  Catskill 
in  pleasant  circumstances.  Dr.  Porter  is  as  much  es- 
teemed there  as  ever,  though  his  labors  have  not  been 
rendered  so  successful  of  late,  as  they  were  formerly. 
Thursday,  I  started  in  the  stage  for  Durham,  tarried  all 
night  at  Cairo,  and  reached  the  Old  Mansion  the  next 
morning.  Mr.  Baldwin  has  made  some  improvements  ; 
the  stoop  is  taken  down,  the  house  is  painted,  &c.  But 
of  this  Jonathan  can  give  you  the  particulars.  I  should 
have  liked  the  old  house  with  its  inhabitants  quite  as 
well. 

"  One  of  my  first  visits  was  paid  to  Uncle  A.  B.,  to 
ascertain  what  had  been  doing  in  Atwater.  His  account 
of  your  circumstances  was  highly  interesting  and  grati- 
fying. I  trust  I  do  experience  some  gratitude  for  the 
mercies   which  you   have   all  received.     I  was  par- 


206  MEMOIR    OF 

ticularly  pleased  to  hear  that  mother  is  satisfied  with 
her  present  situation.  I  then  proceeded  to  Uncle  K.'s, 
where  I  was  most  cordially  received.  Uncle  appears  to 
me  to  be  a  growing  Christian,  notwithstanding  his  pecu- 
liarities of  sentiment.  He  manifests  a  very  affectionate 
remembrance  of  father  and  mother.  He  can  scarcely 
mention  their  names  with  composure.  Many  people 
say  kind  things  to  me  respecting  them. 

"  The  time  I  have  been  here  has  been  pretty  much 
occupied  with  visiting  and  preaching  lectures.  I  have 
called  to  see  all  our  uncles,  besides  making  several 
other  visits.  Last  Friday,  I  found  my  way  over  to  the 
Big  Hollow,  and  paid  Aunt  H.  a  visit.  I  found  her  well 
and  in  pleasant  circumstances,  but  evidently  yielding 
to  the  effects  of  old  age.  She  lives  in  a  large  framed 
house,  much  to  her  mind, — appears  to  enjoy  religion. 
I  preached  a  lecture  in  the  evening,  to  a  suddenly-col- 
lected, but  considerably  numerous  and  attentive,  audi- 
ence. 

"  From  the  Big  Hollow  I  went  to  Cairo,  where  I 
preached  a  preparatory  lecture.  I  have  supplied  Mr. 
Williston's  pulpit  two  Sabbaths,  and  preached  several 
lectures.  The  people  turn  out  to  hear,  but  are  not  so 
forward  to  do.  The  good  cause  has  seldom  been  in  so 
low  a  state.  I  found  almost  the  whole  church  asleep, 
and  shall  probably  leave  the  most  of  them  so.  Alas  ! 
'  how  is  the  gold  become  dim  !  how  is  the  most  fine  gold 
changed  !'  We  have  a  lecture  appointed  for  to-night, 
and  another  for  to-morrow  evening,  after  which  I  am 
calculating  to  make  my  way  back  to  New-York. 

"  I  find  it  generally  reported  here  that  I  am  about 
to  settle  in  New-York ;  but  you  may  rest  assured  that 
it  is  mere  report.     What  God,  in  his  providence,  may 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  207 

effect,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  say.  At  present  there 
is  no  very  promising  opening  for  me  there.  I  am, 
moreover,  averse  to  city -people,  and  to  city-life.  Were 
it  lawful,  I  could  heartily  wish  myself  in  Ohio,  preach- 
ing, if  not  settled,  in  some  growing  country-place.  My 
health  is  fine,  but  I  need  diversion  of  mind,  and  am 
likely  to  find  but  little  of  the  right  kind  here. 

"  I  shall  be  very  desirous  to  hear  from  you  and  fa- 
ther soon.  Should  any  thing  occur  in  New-York, 
which  shall  much  affect  my  calculations,  you  may  ex- 
pect to  hear  of  it  speedily.  Love  to  J.,  and  best 
wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  your  little  daughter." 

To  his  parents  he  also  wrote  an  account  of  the  same 
visit.  "  The  people  and  church  are  in  a  dull  state  with 
respect  to  religion.  I  preached  for  them  at  least  ten 
times  during  the  two  weeks  which  I  spent  with  them. 
They  received  me  very  affectionately,  came  out  in 
great  numbers  to  the  meetings,  and  appeared,  in  some 
instances,  to  be  affected  by  what  was  said.  After 
spending  about  two  weeks  in  Durham,  and  giving  all 
my  uncles  with  some  other  of  my  old  friends  a  call,  I 
came  pretty  directly  back  to  this  place.  I  could  not 
leave  my  native  town  in  a  state  of  religious  declension, 
without  some  degree  of  regret ;  but  I  hope  that  my 
visit  thither  will  not  prove  the  last.  I  think  that  I  was 
enabled  to  speak  to  the  people  with  some  degree  of 
plainness.  My  charge  here  I  found,  on  my  return  to 
this  place,  in  pleasant  circumstances,  and  earnestly 
waiting  for  my  return." 

"  On  my  return  hither,"  he  writes  in  his  diary,  June 
27,  "  I  preached  at  Catskill,  from  Acts  24:  25.  We 
had  a  considerably  full  and  attentive  audience.  I  found 
the  little  flock  here  in  much  the  same  state  as  when  I 


208  MEMOIR    OF 

left  them.  One  had  deserted  and  gone  to  the  Baptists ; 
but  the  majority  seem  inclined  to  stand  by  each  other, 
and  to  consecrate  their  endeavors  to  the  good  work." 

It  appears  from  what  he  says  in  his  letter  to  his 
brother,  that  as  yet  he  was  by  no  means  decided  as  to 
the  sphere  in  which  he  should  labor.  The  prospect  in 
New-York  was  hardly  at  that  time  sufficiently  flattering 
to  suit  his  large  desire.  Not  that  he  desired  the  com- 
forts of  this  w^orld,  or  an  ample  pecuniary  allowance, 
but  a  wider  range  for  his  spiritual  anxieties,  cares  and 
efforts,  w^here  he  could  have  the  field  to  himself,  and 
not  be  under  the  painful  necessity  of  open  collision 
with  brethren  of  the  same  or  kindred  sentiments. 

These  views,  to  some  extent,  he  expresses  in  the 
following  letter  to  his  parents,  under  date  of  July  15 : 
"The  little  church  continues  to  be  united.  We  have 
a  few  instances  of  recent  conversion  among  us,  but  the 
work  of  God  has  evidently  declined.  I  cannot,  on  the 
whole,  believe  that  I  shall  stay  here  a  long  time.  Sup- 
pose that  I  should  see  Ohio  in  the  fall ;  what  would  be 
the  best  time  for  coming  1  To  what  part  of  '  the  Re- 
serve' would  you  think  it  best  for  me  to  direct  my  way, 
after  having  paid  you  the  proper  visit  1  Is  there  just 
now  much  call  for  missionaries  on  '  the  Reserve  V  My 
heart  is  really  with  you.  Were  my  own  inclinations 
to  direct  my  way,  I  should  be  in  Ohio  before  the  end 
of  six  weeks;  but  the  providence  of  God  appears  to 
forbid  it.  I  often  think  with  what  satisfaction  I  should 
meet  your  little  church  and  congregation  ; — how  happy 
I  should  be  Xo  have  an  opportunity  to  administer  the 
ordinances  among  you.  Perhaps  I  may  yet  be  per- 
mitted to  do  it.  There  is  very  little  here  which  inclines 
me  to  make  it  a  permanent  residence. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  209 

"  Uncle  B.  gives  me  a  pleasing  account  of  your  cir- 
cumstances. Though  I  am  more  interested  in  the  spir- 
itual than  in  the  worldly  prosperity  of  my  friends,  I  am 
much  pleased  with  hearing  that  they  are  not  embar- 
rassed with  worldly  cares ;  that  they  have  such  a  sup- 
ply of  earthly  comforts  as  leaves  them  at  leisure  to 
labor  for  spiritual  ones. 

*'  You  will  not  fail  to  remember  me  in  your  prayers, 
that  I  may  be  directed  as  to  the  field  of  labor  in  which 
I  should  engage.  I  do  wish,  if  it  may  consist' with  the 
will  of  Providence,  for  something  fixed.  Great  things 
I  do  not  desire  for  myself;  but  a  wandering  life  is  ex- 
tremely contrary  to  my  feelings,  and  I  think,  in  ordi- 
nary cases,  to  my  usefulness.  I  shall  expect  you  to 
write  soon.  Information  respecting  the  call  for  cler- 
gymen in  Ohio  would  be  interesting  and  perhaps  very 
useful  to  me." 

On  the  third  day  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  the 
trustees  of  the  congregation  to  which  he  preached, 
succeeded  in  securing  a  site  for  a  house  of  worship.  It 
comprised  three  lots  of  ground  on  the  westerly  side  of 
Sheriff-street,  between  Broome  and  Delancey-streets, 
within  a  very  few  rods  of  the  school-house  where  they 
were  then  accustomed  to  worship.  Active  preparations 
were  accordingly  made  for  the  accomphshment  of  the 
undertaking  which  had  been  in  contemplation  for  sev- 
eral months. 

This  movement  served  to  render  the  path  of  duty 
more  plain,  if  not  more  comfortable.  On  the  same  day, 
July  18lh,  he  makes  the  following  record  of  his  state 
of  mind  :  "  Still  permitted  to  labor  for  Christ,  though 
the  slightest  review  of  my  past  life  shows  me  that  I 
have  been  a  most  idle  and  unfaithful  servant.     I  look 


210  MEMOIR    OF 

around  upon  this  region  of  moral  death,  and  perceive 
that  thousands  are  here  perishing  in  their  blood  ;  yet  I 
am  not  greatly  affected  by  the  sight.  Here  lies  the 
obstacle  to  my  active  exertions.  Sloth,  and  an  evil 
heart  which  will  not  feel,  constitute  it.  Lord  !  deliver 
me  from  this  weight.  Pour  a  spirit  of  love  into  my 
heart,  and  all  w^ill  be  well.  Draw  me  towards  thee, 
and  show  me  the  sweetness  of  thy  presence,  and  I  shall 
long  to  bring  all  my  perishing  fellow-creatures  to  the 
same  banquet.  *  Lord !  I  believe ;  help  thou  mine 
unbelief.' 

"  Am  somewhat  encouraged  in  regard  to  the  result 
of  my  labors  here,  though  I  do  not  experience  that  re- 
ligious enjoyment  w^hich  I  need.  The  reason  is  but  too 
obvious.  I  have  too  much  pride  about  me,  am  too 
neglectful  of  many  duties,  and  too  often  betrayed  into 
known  sins,  to  experience  the  comforts  of  godliness. 
Often  when  I  rise  to  warn  and  admonish  others,  I  seem 
to  myself  to  be  the  most  unworthy  sinner  in  the  assem- 
bly. But  I  do  not  always,  nor  generally,  preach  an 
entirely-unfelt  Christ.  God  has  of  late  enabled  me  to 
have  a  deep  sense  of  the  solemn  importance  of  the 
truths  wdiich  I  have  been  called  to  deliver.  *  Bless  the 
Lord,  0  ray  soul  !' 

"  Yesterday,  with  the  assistance  of  Brother  S.,  I  ad- 
ministered for  the  third  time,  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Supper.  It  w^as  a  melting  season.  God  does  appear 
to  be  with  this  little  flock,  and  to  extend  over  it  the 
banner  of  his  protection.  To  thee  only,  0  Lord  !  can 
we  look  for  protection  and  enlargement." 

Again,  Aug.  8th,  he  remarks  : — "  The  Lord  is  evi- 
dently trying  the  faith  of  his  people  here,  by  many 
dark  dispensations.     At  one  time  we  see  more  than 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  211 

usual  interest  manifested  in  hearing  the  word,  at  an- 
other, all  that  interest  is  gone.  It  is  the  same  with 
respect  to  the  temporal  interests  of  the  congregation. 
Our  hopes  are  frequently  raised  only  to  be  disappointed. 
And  yet,  God  does  not  suffer  us  to  sink  down  in  utter 
and  final  despair.  How  shall  we  interpret  these  provi- 
dences ?  Is  God  about  to  give  us  up  with — '  Ephraim 
is  joined  to  idols;  let  him  alone?'  I  cannot  believe 
it. 

"  In  such  circumstances,  the  question  occurs,  '  Is  it 
ray  duty  to  continue  my  labors  here  V  I  might  now 
be  preaching  to  a  more  numerous,  pious  and  intelligent 
people.  I  might  be  breaking  the  bread  of  life  to  those 
who  live  in  the  western  wilderness,  assisting  in  the  col- 
lection not  of  one,  but  of  many  congregations.  My 
feelings  are  strongly  in  favor  of  leaving  this  place,  but 
I  dare  not  go  without  the  consent  of  my  heavenly  Fa- 
ther. To  him  do  I  look  for  direction,  and,  I  trust,  with 
a  disposition  to  acquiesce  in  it  when  obtained.'' 

The  immediate  occasion  of  renewing  these  ques- 
tions and  doubts,  appears  to  have  been  the  active 
measures  taken  by  the  other  Missionary  Society  to 
pre-occupy  the  ground.  Although  the  people  of  that 
neighborhood  had  neither  solicited  nor  desired  their  in- 
terference, and  had  generally  expressed  their  decided 
opposition  to  the  measure,  though  at  the  time  the  So- 
ciety in  question  had  no  missionary  in  that  region,  nor 
until  some  weeks  afterwards,  they  proceeded,  about  the 
25th  of  July,  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  their  contem- 
plated Mission-House,  and  were  now  making  every  exer- 
tion, under  powerful  ministerial  patronage,  to  complete 
the  work.  Could  he  have  retired  from  the  conflict  with  a 
clear  conscience,  he  w^ould  have  left  them  in  the  undis- 


212  MEMOIR   OF 

turbed  possession  of  the  field,  and  plunged  into  the 
western  wilderness  to  labor  for  the  Redeemer  without 
controversy  and  divisions  among  brethren. 

To  add  to  his  trials,  he  was  left,  just  at  this  time,  to 
barren  ordinances  : — "  August  9th.  Preached  morning 
and  afternoon  at  the  school-room  in  Broome-street. 
Number  that  attended  unusually  small.  And  what,  as 
far  as  I  am  concerned,  is  still  more  lamentable,  I  was 
left  to  preach  with  a  cold  heart,  especially  in  the  after- 
noon. I  believe  that  I  talked  fluently,  but  there  did 
not  seem  to  myself  to  be  much  substance  in  what  I 
uttered.  Alas !  my  Savior !  how  ill  do  I  plead  thy 
cause." 

On  the  following  morning,  Monday,  August  10th,  at 
9  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  church 
was  laid  with  religious  services.  This  event  appears  to 
have  inspired  him  with  new  courage,  and  a  renewed 
determination  to  be  diligent  and  faithful  in  the  cause  of 
his  Divine  Master. 

'^August  11. — See  the  necessity  of  renewing  my 
covenant-vows  before  God  ;  and  this  I  now  do,  prom- 
ising that,  by  the  help  of  his  Spirit,  I  will  take  his  word 
to  be  my  guide  in  all  the  business  of  life ;  that  I  will 
watch  my  heart  with  the  greatest  care ;  be  diligent 
and  holy  in  my  outward  actions ;  and  do  all  things  to 
the  honor  of  his  sacred  name.  I  am  ashamed  of  my 
sloth,  my  selfishness,  my  prejudices  against  my  breth- 
ren, my  w^ant  of  love  for  souls ; — yes,  of  my  w'hole 
life.  All  must  be  reformed ;  and  I  bless  God  that  he 
has  once  more  called  up  my  attention  to  this  subject.  I 
do  seem  to  myself  to  love  him.  He  is  a  good  master, 
a  kind  and  forgiving  parent.  I  know  him  and  his  dear 
Son;  and,  though  I  often  sin  against  them  most  un- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  213 

gratefully,  still  I  desire  to  have  them  for  my  everlasting 
poition  j  still  see  a  glory  in  their  character,  and  an  ex- 
cellency in  their  requirements  which  engage  the  best 
affections  of  my  heart." 

This  was  followed  by  a  serenity  of  mind  which  dis- 
posed him  to  confide  with  all  his  heart  in  the  dispensa- 
tions of  the  divine  will :— "  Saturday  evening,  August 
Ibth.  My  mind  is  in  a  sweet,  composed  frame.  It  is 
good  to  give  up  ourselves  and  the  good  cause  into  the 
hands  of  God  ;  and  I  think  I  am  enabled  to  do  it  this 
evening.  The  Lord  will  take  care  of  his  church  and 
his  honor  in  this  place ;  and  this  consideration  satisfies 
me." 

Still  he  fluctuates.  At  one  time  he  is  filled  with  en- 
couragement ;  and  w^ithin  a  day  or  two  almost  cast 
down  again.  These  changes  appear  in  the  following 
meditations : 

"  Aug.  18.  Have  been  reading  a  part  of  the  Book 
of  Judges,  and  not  without  comparing  the  conduct  of 
the  Israelites  in  repeatedly  turning  to  idolatry  with  my 
own.  Surely  God  is  bringing  me  into  temptations  to 
try  me,  whether  I  will  observe  his  commandments  or 
not.  How^  exactly  do  I  copy  the  example  of  Israel !  I 
have  been  often  delivered  from  distressing  doubts,  and 
fears,  and  darkness  which  might  be  felt.  God  has 
conquered  my  oppressors  for  me.  But  he  has  not  found 
in  me  corresponding  gratitude  and  obedience.  No 
longer  than  the  last  Lord's  day,  he  visited  my  soul 
graciously.  I  did,  if  I  mistake  not,  enjoy  something  of 
his  smiles ;  I  did  feel  his  love  warming  my  heart.  And 
the  savor  is  still  left  in  my  soul.  But  I  begin  to  fear 
that  my  heart  is  again  leading  me  astray.  I  would 
wander  no  more,  0  my  Savior  !  I  would  not  stray  from 


214  MEMOIR    OF 

thee.  Thou  art  the  centre  of  my  soul.  But  I  would  love 
thee  more  ;  I  would  know  more  of  thy  love,  even  of 
'  the  breadth  and  length  and  depth  and  height, — which 
passeth  knowledge.' 

"  God  appears  to  be  smiling  on  the  efforts  of  his 
people  here  to  erect  a  house  for  his  worship.  The 
work  goes  forward  in  spite  of  the  fears,  I  had  almost 
said,  in  spite  of  the  calculations,  of  his  people.  We 
can  number  but  a  handful  of  people  who  are  on  the 
Lord's  side,  yet  he  has  evidently  appeared  in  the  midst 
of  them,  to  sustain  and  bless  them. 

"  Since  my  residence  in  this  city,  I  have  necessarily 
dispensed  with  some  of  my  studious  habits,  but,  I  trust, 
have  not  lost  them.  I  am  obliged  to  preach  entirely 
without  notes.  The  effect  will  be,  without  great  exer- 
tions to  prevent  it,  that  I  shall  fall  into  a  loose  style  of 
speaking,  if  not  of  writing.  I  do,  however,  mean  to 
enter  on  immediate,  vigorous  and  persevering  measures 
to  prevent  this  effect. 

"  God  still  follows  me  with  loving-kindness  and  ten- 
der mercy.  I  have,  for  some  days,  enjoyed  a  pleasant 
frame  of  mind.  I  am  not  greatly  exalted  in  my  feel- 
ings, but  pass  on  with  that  equableness  which  keeps  me 
prepared  for  the  Lord's  service.  Last  night  I  lectured 
in  Cherry-street.  The  audience  w^as  small,  but  ex- 
ceedingly attentive  and  solemn.  Truth  was  pleasant 
to  me.  I  could  have  talked  as  long  as  Paul  did  at 
Troas,  and  the  people  seemed  to  have  a  kindred  feel- 
ing with  his  audience. 

"  Aug.  20.  Have  many  discouraging  feelings  re- 
specting the  efforts  here  to  erect  a  house  of  worship, 
and  collect  a  congregation.  I  am  but  a  feeble  instru- 
ment, am  without  friends,  and  surrounded  by  many  who 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  215 

will  probably  either  oppose  or  despise  me.  But  God  is 
wont  to  operate  in  a  way  which  shall  manifest  his 
power  and  faithfulness.  I  have  been  reading  the  story 
of  Gideon's  victory  over  the  Midianites ;  and  I  find 
that  God  can  save  by  few  as  well  as  by  many.  Thirty 
thousand,  nay  ten,  were  too  many  for  the  conflict,  lest 
Israel  should  take  the  praise  of  the  victory  to  himself. 
I  have  been  wishing  that  we  had  in  this  church  and 
congregation  some  man  of  wealth  and  influence,  or  at 
least,  that  the  number  of  our  friends  was  increased. 
But  have  I  not  done  this  in  a  spirit  of  unbehef  1  God 
can  save  by  feeble  means ;  perhaps  he  designs,  in  this 
instance,  to  make  a  peculiar  display  of  his  love  to  his 
church.  It  is  not  for  me  to  say  how,  or  by  what  instru- 
ments, he  shall  effect  his  purposes  of  love  in  this 
place. 

"  We  had  a  tolerably  full,  and  a  very  solemn  meet- 
ing last  evening,  at  the  school-room.  The  lectures, 
too,  in  Cherry-street,  are  latterly  more  interesting.  Oh 
that  God  would  come  among  us  by  the  influences  of  his 
Holy  Spirit ! — I  begin  to  fear  that  the  reigning  stupid- 
ity is  more  attributable  to  me  than  to  any  other  indi- 
vidual here.  I  preach,  exhort,  and  visit  much,  but  I 
do  not  find  much  satisfaction  in  praying  for  the  success 
of  these  efforts.  A  passage  in  the  life  of  Fuller  has 
convinced  me,  that  the  success  of  a  minister  depends 
very  much  on  his  prayers  in  secret.  If  so,  I  cannot 
reasonably  expect  success,  for  I  evidently  do  not  pray 
much." 

Some  idea  of  the  nature  and  number  of  his  engage- 
ments, as  well  as  of  the  spirit  with  which  he  labored, 
may  be  gathered  from  the  records  which  follow  : 

"  Saturday  evening,  Aug.  29.   I  have  almost  finished 


216  MEMOIR    OF 

the  labors  of  another  week.  I  preached  a  lecture 
Tuesday  evening,  in  Cherry-street.  The  walking  was 
unpleasant,  but  the  number  that  attended  was  consid- 
erable ;  and  the  appearance  of  the  people  very  solemn. 
Several  wept. — Wednesday,  in  the  afternoon,  we  held 
our  monthly  prayer-meeting  in  my  room.  But  little 
notice  had  been  given.  The  meeting  was,  nevertheless, 
well  attended,  and  profitable  to  some.  I  have  seldom 
enjoyed  so  much  in  one  service.  In  the  evening  I  lec- 
tured at  our  school-room  in  Broome-street.  Had  a  full 
house,  and  appeared  to  myself  to  be  assisted  in  the  ex- 
ercises. Several  shed  tears. —  Thursday  evening ,  I  lec- 
tured, in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Spring,  for  his  people  ; 
and  was  enabled  to  speak  with  great  plainness,  and 
considerable  fluency.  The  Lord  was  evidently  in  the 
midst  of  us ;  but — alas  !  how  have  I  abused  his  mer- 
cies. It  would,  indeed,  be  right  for  him  to  withdraw 
from  me  entirely  and  finally,  his  good  Spirit.  I  was 
foolishly  elated  by  that  which  should  have  filled  my 
mouth  only  with  thanksgiving  and  praise.  O  my  Sav- 
ior !  regard  thy  unworthy  servant  in  this  thing  merci- 
fully ;  and  lead  me  to  a  greater  acquaintance  with  my 
own  heart,  a  more  abiding  and  thorough  sense  of  my 
dependence  on  thee,  and  of  my  obligations  to  thee.  I 
would  be  deeply  humbled  for  my  pride  and  greatly 
penitent.  I  now  see  that  uninterrupted  prosperity, 
without  a  double  share  of  divine  grace,  would  prove 
my  undoing. — Friday  evening,  held  the  usual  lecture 
on  the  Island,  and  enjoyed  it  much.  Thus  God  did  not 
visit  me  ac9ording  to  my  deserts.  I  still  have  a  pleas- 
ant state  of  mind.  Oh !  could  I  see  a  special  work  of 
grace  in  this  vicinity,  methinks  I  should  be  ready  to 
say  with  Simeon, '  Now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart 


KiiV.    DK.    BALDWIN.  '  217 

in  peace.'  We  are  to  have  the  usual  meeting  for 
prayer  this  evening. 

"  Besides  attending  the  above  service,  I  have  made 
several  visits  to  the  sick,  and  called  on  a  number  of 
faraiUes.  I  have  also  copied  half  a  sermon,  read  a  con- 
siderable part  of  Fuller's  life,  and  almost  finished  my 
preparation  for  two  services  on  the  morrow.  And  yet 
I  have  to  condemn  myself  for  sloth,  as  I  have  lost  sev- 
eral hours  during  the  week.  I  have  also  indulged  my 
appetite  for  food  inordinately, — and  committed  various 
other  sins,  for  which  I  should  be  very  humble  before 
God.     My  evil  heart  is,  indeed,  a  \vorld  of  iniquity. 

"  My  routine  of  labors  this  week  has  been  much  the 
same  as  they  usually  are.  Three  services  on  the  Lord's 
day,  and  three  or  four  during  the  rest  of  the  week,  be- 
sides one  or  two  prayer-meetings,  make  up  my  com- 
plement. Oh  that  God  would  abundantly  supply  me 
for  this  arduous  and  good  work !  I  am  pleased  with  it, 
in  my  happier  moments  ;  and,  I  trust,  can  almost 
habitually  say,  ^  the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.'  " 

The  w^ork  of  erecting  the  new  building  went  on 
slowly,  and  with  many  embarrassments  arising  from 
the  poverty  of  the  people.  Not  so,  however,  with  the 
Mission-House.  Within  less  than  three  months  from 
the  time  of  laying  the  corner-stone,  the  building  was 
completed,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  three  thousand  dollars, 
and  on  the  11th  of  October  it  was  dedicated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God.  About  the  middle  of  September,  Mr. 
Robert  Steel,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New- 
York,  had  been  engaged  as  their  missionary,  and  on 
he  18th  of  October  entered  upon  his  work  of  gather- 
ing a  congregation,  and,  if  possible,  a  church. 

These  facts  will  explain  the  remarks  which  follow. 
10 


218  MEMOIR    OF 

On  the  27th  of  September,  after  the  fact  of  Mr.  Steel's 
engagement  became  known,  he  thus  writes : — "  The 
Lord  continues  to  try  me  by  placing  me  in  circum- 
stances the  most  disagreeable  to  my  feelings.  I  do 
hate  contentions  among  brethren.  There  is  nothing 
here  that  I  covet  as  promising  me  a  settlement,  or  an 
opportunity  of  gaining  any  thing  for  myself.  I  would 
willingly  leave  the  field  to  any  faithful  servant  of 
Christ,  who  would  willingly  sustain  the  toil  and  self- 
denial  of  cultivating  it.  I  w'ould  rejoice  to  see  it 
peaceably  committed  to  the  care  of  those  who  call 
themselves  the  Old  Calvinists  ;  but  they  are  unwilling 
to  take  the  church  under  their  care.  The  dove,  it 
seems,  may  not  have  a  place  for  the  sole  of  her  foot. 
Alas !  contention.  Oh  for  a  retreat  from  it  some- 
whither.— But,  heavenly  Father  !  thou  sayest,  no.  En- 
able me  to  say,  '  Even  so.  Father  !' — I  would  follow 
the  leadings  of  thy  providence.  Make  them  plain. 
Let  me  know  w^hat  thou  w^ouldst  have  me  to  do,  and 
give  me  a  disposition  to  do  it.  Thy  grace  is  sufficient 
— it  is  enough.  Lord !  do  what  seemeth  good  in  thy 
sight. — Amen." 

Again  on  the  18th  of  October  he  writes: — "The 
time, — I  can  truly  say,  the  much-dreaded  time — has 
come,  when  the  designs  of  men  who  have  come  into 
this  field  of  labor,  with  the  apparent  object  of  destroy- 
ing this  little  congregation  and  church,  are  to  have 
their  sway.  This  Sabbath  their  missionary  commences 
preaching  within  twenty  rods  of  me.  His  meetings  for 
the  evenings  are  appointed  at  the  same  time  with  my 
meetings.  Thus  minister  is  arrayed  against  minister, 
and  people  against  people.  I  have  no  liking  for  con- 
test 3  nay,  my  spirit  shrinks  from  it.    The  very  appear- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  219 

ance  of  opposition  to  any  of  my  own  denomination,  and 
especially  to  their  benevolent  efforts,  is  abhorrent  to  my 
feelings.  But  what  can  I  do  ?  Leave  the  field  I  dare 
not.  Cease  to  instruct  and  warn  this  people  of  their 
sins,  I  dare  not.  I  am  hedged  m  on  every  side,  and 
what  remains  for  me  to  do  ?  Blessed  Savior  !  hast 
not  thou  brought  me  into  these  circumstances  ?  Was 
it  not  thy  good  pleasure,  that  this  church  and  congre- 
gation should  be  formed,  that  they  should  unite  in 
erecting  a  house  for  thee ;  and  is  it  not  in  thy  heart 
to  give  them  success  in  their  efforts  ?  Oh  !  I  look  to 
thee.  Give  me  heavenly  wisdom,  that  I  may  conduct 
myself  so  as  to  meet  thy  approbation.  Especially,  be 
near  thy  unworthy  servant  this  day,  that  he  may  be 
filled  with  a  holy  peace,  and  dispense  the  life-giving 
word  with  plainness,  power,  and  fervor  of  heart." 

It  was  not  in  vain  that  he  looked  to  the  Redeemer, 
and  appealed  to  him  in  this  emergency.  True  to  his 
promise,  the  Savior  appeared  for  his  help,  and  brought 
him  deliverance.  The  result  will  show  that  "  it  is  bet- 
ter to  trust  in  the  Lord  than  to  put  confidence  in 
princes." 

Hitherto  the  church,  though  formed  on  Presbyterian 
principles,  had  stood  alone,  having  no  Presbyterial 
connection.  Measures  were  taken,  by  the  appointment 
of  a  committee  for  the  purpose,  on  the  8th  of  October, 
to  bring  it  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  Presbytery. 
This  object  was  eflfected  on  the  14th  of  the  same 
month.  It  then  consisted  of  34  members,  of  whom  17 
had  been  admitted  on  profession  of  their  faith.  Of  the 
whole  number  only  nine  were  males. 

Nothing  daunted,  he  continued  to  pursue  the  object 
which  had  brought  him  into  this  rugged  field  of  labor. 


220  ME.MOiil    OF 

J^ov.  1,  he  remarks, — "  I  cannot,  this  evening,  very 
much  doubt  whether  I  love  the  cause  of  God.  I  have 
just  returned  from  ray  lecture  on  the  Island,  where  I 
appeared  to  have  the  special  assistance  of  the  Divine 
Spirit.  My  text  was,  '  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God,  0  Is- 
rael !^  and  God  enabled  me  to  push  the  subject  hard 
against  the  consciences  of  my  hearers.  Thanks  be  to 
his  name,  he  does  remember  us  in  our  low  estate.  He 
has  not  deserted  his  little  church  here,  and,  I  trust,  he 
never  will  desert  it." 

He  had  not  yet,  however,  given  up  all  thoughts  of 
the  West.  To  his  parents  he  writes,  the  next  day,  as 
follows  : — "  I  have  delayed  writing  to  you  for  some 
time  past,  very  much  on  account  of  the  unwillingness  I 
experience  to  announce  to  you  what  I  know  will  prove 
a  serious  disappointment :  viz. — that  I  am  not  permit- 
ted to  visit  Ohio  this  fall.  I  did  hope  to  do  it.  But  I 
am  forced  to  feel  that  I  am  a  soldier,  enlisted  under  the 
great  *  captain  of  our  salvation,'  and  subject  to  his 
command.  I  cannot,  I  dare  not,  select  the  field  and 
service  which  would  be  most  gratifying  to  my  natural 
inclinations.  I  must  take  up  the  cross.  You  can 
hardly  imagine  how  much  I  do,  at  times,  long  to  be 
with  you  ;  to  see  the  little  church  in  the  wilderness, 
and  to  be  made  the  means  of  strengthening  their  hands 
in  the  good  w^ork,  to  which  they  have  professed  their 
attachment.  I  should  indeed  rejoice  to  assemble  so 
many  of  my  old  acquaintances  and  friends  as  I  should 
find  in  Atwater,  and  expound  unto  them  the  word  of 
life.  And  I/Still  have  faith  to  believe  that  God  will 
afford  me  the  desired  opportunity. 

"I  do  not  see  any  probability  that  I  shall  continue 
here  longer  than  till  spring,  unless  something  very  de- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  221 

cided  occurs  in  regard  to  my  circumstances.  I  shall 
not  calculate  to  continue  any  longer  as  a  missionary. 
The  church  and  congreg^ation  to  whom  1  am  now- 
preaching,  have  been  collected  through  my  instrumen- 
tality. They  are,  of  course,  not  a  little  attached  to 
me.  I  could  not  leave  them  now  without  exposing 
them  to  be  entirely  scattered.  They  are  making  great 
exertions  to  erect  a  house  for  worship,  and  with  some 
prospect  of  success.  Already  the  building  is  inclosed, 
and  we  expect  to  meet  in  it  for  divine  service,  the  com- 
ing winter. 

"  You  will  naturally  ask — '  How  do  you  calculate  to 
get  away  in  the  spring  with  less  difficulty  than  now  V 
— The  answer  is, — I  may,  in  the  mean  time,  direct 
their  attention  to  some  other  one  as  a  fit  person  to  la- 
bor among  them.  I  shall  be  able  to  plead  long-con- 
tinuance in  the  missionary  service.  Or,  if  they  should 
insist  upon  having  me  for  their  minister,  and  my  judicious 
friends  should  advise  my  continuing  with  them,  I  may 
do  it  on  condition  of  first  visiting  my  friends  in  Ohio. 

''I  continue  to  enjoy  a  comfortable  measure  of 
health,  though  my  duties  are  singularly  arduous.  My 
lungs  are  strong,  and  my  voice  improves  by  use.  I  can 
truly  say,  that  I  have  no  desire  of  settling  in  New^-York. 
Give  me  elbow-room.  I  love  the  open  air,  and  open 
country-hearts.  The  every-d ay-exhibitions  of  wicked- 
ness in  the  streets  of  this  great  city  are  appalling  to  the 
serious  mind.  Everything  serious  and  moral  is  trampled 
under  foot.  I  trust  you  do  remember  me  in  your  re- 
tirements.    I  need  more  grace." 

At  the  expiration  of  the  first  year  of  his  missionary 
labors,  he  whites  as  follows : — "  We  enjoy  much  satis- 
faction in  witnessing  the  Christian  union   and  order 


222  MEMOIR    OF 

which  have  thus  far  distinguished  this  little  company. 
The  Spirit  of  God  is  not  yet  removed  from  us.  The 
increase  of  the  congregation  keeps  pace  with  that  of 
the  church.  Our  meetings  for  worship  are  better  at- 
tended than  at  any  former  period.  In  short,  when  I 
look  around  me,  and  contrast  the  present  circumstances 
of  this  people  with  w^hat  they  were  a  year  since,  I  am 
encouraged.  '  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for 
us,  whereof  w^e  are  glad.'  Impressions,  favorable  to 
rehgion,  have  been  made  on  a  large  and  most  impor- 
tant section  of  this  growing  city,  which,  we  hope,  will 
go  down  to  succeeding  generations ;  and,  to  crown  the 
whole,  the  little  clouds,  which  rose  and  poured  upon 
us  their  mercy-drops,  still  linger  in  our  sky,  and  seem 
to  be  collecting  for  a  still  more  refreshing  shower." 

Measures  had  recently  been  taken  for  the  formation 
of  a  Presbyterian  Education  Society.  A  preliminary 
meeting  had  been  held  on  the  23d  of  October,  of  min- 
isters and  others  in  the  session-room  of  the  Brick  church 
in  New-York,  at  which  a  committee  had  been  appoint- 
ed to  prepare  a  plan  for  organizing  such  a  Society. 
This  committee  met,  Nov.  10th,  in  the  session-room  of 
the  Wall-street  church,  and  agreed  upon  a  constitution, 
to  -be  submitted  to  a  convention  that  was  to  meet  at 
New- Brunswick,  N.  J.,  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month. 

In  this  enterprise  Mr.  Baldwin  deeply  sympathized. 
He  greatly  desired  that  a  society  should  be  formed  that 
would  secure  the  patronage  of  the  whole  Presbyterian 
church.  He  attended  the  convention,  but  was  greatly 
dissatisfied  with  the  result,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"  Saturday,  JYuv.  29.  Returned  this  afternoon  from 
Brunswick,  whither  I  went  to  a  convention  of  clergy- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  223 

men  and  laymen,  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  forming 
an  Education  Society  for  the  Presbyterian  church. 
The  thing  did  not  succeed  as  had  been  anticipated. 
Drs.  A.  and  M.  from  Princeton  had  it  evidently  in 
view,  to  shape  the  constitution  so  as  to  promote  the  in- 
terests of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton ;  the 
Hopkinsians  were  over-jealous  of  them  ;  and  so  they 
came  to  a  complete  rupture.  The  two  professors 
left  the  meeting  before  the  business  was  finished. 
A  society  is  formed,  but  it  cannot  be  a  general 
one.  The  Old  Calvinists  will  not  lift  a  finger,  un- 
less it  be  to  form  one  in  opposition.  I  calculate 
on  seeing  this  business  made  a  handle  of,  to  kindle 
anew  the  flames  of  discord  between  the  two  parties. 
Alas !  O  Lord !  what  desolations  have  contentions 
among  brethren  occasioned  !  Breathe  into  thy  dear 
people  a  spirit  of  forbearance,  of  mutual  confidence,  of 
Christian  humility  and  active  zeal.  Oh  I  permit  not 
the  body  of  Christ  to  be  rent  asunder. 

"  I  returned  from  the  meeting  much  disappointed, 
and,  most  of  all,  chagrined  with  myself.  Never  may  I 
again  be  left  to  follow  the  motions  of  any  man,  unless 
they  perfectly  accord  \vith  my  own  views.  I  might 
have  prevented  the  decision  which  separated  the  meet- 
ing, but  I  trusted  to  my  fathers  in  the  ministry." 

It  was  now  becoming  daily  more  evident  to  him  that 
duty  required  him  to  remain  in  New-York.   To  a  friend 

in  N k,  he  writes, — "  Had  I  time  enough  at  my 

command,  I  would  be  in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
New-York,  and  Ohio,  looking  up  my  long-neglected 
friends.  But  what,  in  the  mean  time,  would  become 
of  this  dear  inquiring  people  ?  So,  I  am  fixed  here  at 
last,  and  I  can  say,  willing  to  be  fixed.     Yes,  I  find 


224  MEMOIR    OF 

rich  reward  for  my  labors  here,  in  the  labor  itself.  My 
friend,  I  trust,  knows  something  about  the  happiness 
that  arises  from  denying  ourselves  for  Christ's  sake. 

God  is  good  to  me.     Yes,  J ,  I  feel  it,  and  should 

do  wrong  in  not  acknowledging  it  to  so  near  a  friend. 
The  more  I  exert  myself  for  Christ,  the  more  I  love  his 
character,  his  cause,  his  service  ; — the  more  assurance 
I  have  of  being  hereafter  where  he  is,  to  behold  his 
glory.  I  am  also  more  persuaded  daily,  that  the  best 
way  to  obtain  the  consolations  of  religion,  is  to  be  ac- 
tively employed  in  promoting  its  interests.  This  pas- 
sage of  Scripture  has  been,  of  late,  forcibly  impressed 
upon  my  mind, — ^  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatso- 
ever I  command  you.'  The  fact  of  our  belonging  to 
Christ  must  precede  the  evidence  of  its  existence.  If 
w^e  are  Christ's  disciples,  we  can  be  assured  of  our 
being  his,  only  by  our  having  performed  his  commands; 
or,  what  amounts  to  the  same,  being  conscious  of  a  de- 
sire to  perform  them.  Yet  many  Christians  would 
direct  a  person  to  be  comfortably  assured  of  his  piety 
previously  to  his  doing  some  of  the  plainest  and  most 
imperative  duties.  They  would  direct  him  to  find  evi- 
dence without  possessing  it,  or  putting  himself  in  the 
-Avay  to  possess  it." 

The  house  of  worship  w^as  so  far  completed,  Decem- 
ber 20th,  that  the  basement-story  was  on  that  day 
opened  for  public  worship.  His  feelings  on  the  occa- 
sion are  thus  expressed  : — "  Dec.  27.  The  Lord  is 
merciful.  He  evidently  prospers  the  efforts  of  his  peo- 
ple, to  establish  the  regular  ministration  of  Christian 
crJinances  in  this  neighborhood.  The  session-room  of 
the  new  church  having  been  opened  the  last  Sabbath, 
the  number  of  hearers  has  greatly  increased.    We  have 


REV.    DE.    BALDWIN.  225 

now  the  prospect  of  soon  witnessing  a  respectable  con- 
gregation collected.  May  the  good  Lord  accomplish 
this,  which  we  anticipate." 

The  partial  occupancy  of  their  new  house  was  to  him 
and  his  flock  an  event  of  great  interest,  and  it  led  them 
to  engage  earnestly  in  prayer  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  Af- 
ter so  many  struggles,  it  was  cheering  to  know  that 
God  had  thus  far  prospered  them  ;  and  they  could  not 
but  be  anxious  that  from  the  first  it  might  be  conse- 
crated by  the  presence  of  God. 

Nor  did  they  pray  and  look  in  vain.  It  soon  became 
evident  that  the  Lord  was  shedding  upon  them  the 
dews  of  divine  grace.  To  a  friend  he  writes  about  this 
time : 

"  The  good  work  appears  to  go  forward.  We  have 
a  few  new  instances  of  hopeful  conversion,  and  several 
of  conviction.  Christians  are  awake,  united  and  ac- 
tive. I  see  but  one  obstacle  in  the  way  of  an  extensive 
revival  of  religion,  and  that  is,  an  unworthy  minister, 
whose  labors  God  is,  nevertheless,  as  yet,  pleased  to 
bless.  I  wonder,  my  dear  friend  !  But  so  it  is.  Pray 
that  he  may  be  rendered  more  active,  prudent,  success- 
ful and  humble.  We  had,  the  last  evening,  a  meeting 
at  my  room  of  selected  persons,  comprising  those  who 
have  obtained  hopes,  a  few  experienced  Christians,  and 
some  who  were  under  conviction.  The  solemnity,  the 
Christian  love,  the  anxiety  which  pervaded  the  little 
assembly,  were  such  as  to  answer  our  expectations, 
and  almost  lead  some  to  exclaim,  '  Verily  God  is  here.' 
But  I  may  say  too  much.  We  tremble  lest  the  Spirit 
should  in  any  way  be  grieved." 

Again,  ^^  Jan.  17,  1819.  We  have  enjoyed  a  pleas- 
ant communion-season  to-day.  Five  have  on  the  oc- 
10* 


226  MEMOIR    OF 

casion  been  added  to  this  church.  Our  number  is  now 
forty-three,  and  several  are  expecting  soon  to  unite 
with  us.  The  congregation  exhibits  a  corresponding 
increase.  Our  lecture-room  is  already  full,  and  we  be- 
gin to  feel  the  necessity  of  finding  more  spacious  ac- 
commodations. But,  amid  all  this  success,  we  cannot 
but  rejoice  with  trembling.  When  I  look  at  my  own 
heart,  so  attached  to  the  world, — at  my  life,  so  far 
removed  from  the  bright  image  of  him  who  is  example 
as  well  as  Savior,  I  cannot  but  fear  lest  God  should 
leave  me  to  lifeless,  unprofitable  ministrations.  I  need 
exactly  what  is  comprehended  in  one  short  word — 
grace.  I  do  love  my  work,  and  if  I  do  not  deceive  my 
own  soul,  I  have  this  day  experienced  such  sweetness 
in  the  things  of  God,  as  can  be  found  nowhere  but  in 
him.     '  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul  !'  " 

In  his  diary,  he  speaks  of  the  joy  that  filled  his  soul 
on  the  occasion  of  administering  the  Lord's  Supper  for 
the  first  time  in  the  new  house  :  — "  Jan.  17.  Have  a 
most  delightful  sense  of  the  presence  and  love  of  God. 
Though  he  should  slay  me,  yet  would  I  trust  in  him. 
1  have  this  day  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  and 
preached  two  sermons  to  this  congregation.  By  leave 
of  Providence  I  hope  to  address  them  again  this  even- 
ing. I  do  indeed  need  Divine  help  to  go  through  with 
the  arduous  labors  which  devolve  upon  me.  To  thee, 
O  God  !  do  I  look  up.  Oh  !  strengthen  me  yet  again, 
and  my  heart  and  my  lips  shall  bless  thee." 

The  prospect  continued  to  brighten  : — "  Lord's  day, 
Jan.  31.  A  good  day.  I  have  experienced  great 
solemnity  of  feeling  at  each  of  my  three  services  in 
the  house  of  God  to-day;  but  my  evening-service  was 
peculiarly  interesting  to  me.     It  was  on  the  subject  of 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  227 

the  rest  in  heaven.  I  was  enabled  to  speak  with  much 
fluency  and  some  power ;  and  I  am  not  without  hopes, 
that  God  will  sanctify  it  to  those  who  were  present. 
Indeed,  the  appearance  is,  that  we  shall  have  a  revival 
of  religion  here.  God  grant  that  we  may.  I  think 
that  I  desire  it,  that  I  long  and  pray  for  it." 

7"he  course  which  he  pursued  in  relation  to  Mr. 
Steel  was  in  the  highest  degree  conciliatory.  Instead 
of  thwarting  the  efforts  of  his  rival,  he  took  pleasure  in 
showing  the  utmost  good-will.  He  cheerfully  co-ope- 
rated with  him,  invited  him  to  take  part  in  the  ser- 
vices of  his  own  congregation,  and  readily  complied 
when  he  himself  was  invited  in  turn.  So  effect- 
ual were  these  expressions  of  good-will,  that  Mr.  Steel 
soon  resolved  to  retire  from  the  field,  declaring  that  it 
was  impossible  to  contend  with  such  a  man.  He  ac- 
cordingly abandoned  the  ground  at  the  end  of  less  than 
four  months'  labor,  and  Mr.  Baldwin  was  left  in  pos- 
session. 

The  Society  which  employed  Mr.  Steel  made  dili- 
gent efforts  to  procure  another  missionary,  who  could 
devote  his  whole  time  to  the  service,  but  were  unable 
to  accomplish  their  object.  In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  M. 
O.  Stansbury  was  employed  as  a  temporary  supply. 
Finding  that  the  enterprise  was  hkely  to  prove  a  fail- 
ure, they  offered  to  sell  the  house  and  lease  of  ground 
to  a  Methodist  congregation  which  had  recently  been 
gathered  in  the  neighborhood,  and  were  then  worship- 
ing in  the  school-room  in  Broome-street,  just  vacated 
by  Mr.  B.'s  church.  The  offer  not  being  accepted, 
they  concluded  to  lease  the  property  to  the  Methodist 
Society  at  an  annual  rent  of  $225.  It  changed  hands 
about  May  1,  1819,  and  was  occupied  by  the  present 


228  MEMOIR    OF 

^Yillet- street  church  for  six  years.  After  this  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Baptists,  and  served  as  the  gath- 
ering-place of  the  present  Cannon-street  church,  by 
\vhom  it  was  occupied  until  the  spring  of  1841,  when 
the  buildino^  was  converted  into  dwellino;-houses. 

Fully  appreciating  the  protecting  care  which  God 
was  thus  manifesting  for  the  little  flock,  Mr.  Baldwin 
renewed  his  efforts  to  advance  the  holy  cause  to  which 
he  had  been  devoted.  His  whole  soul  appears  to  have 
been  intent  upon  his  work,  and  to  have  been  filled  with 
corresponding  spiritual  enjoyment.  The  following  ex- 
tract exhibits  him  in  a  most  desirable  frame  of  mind  : 
'  ■  "  Feb.  10.  For  some  lime  past,  I  have  been  pecu- 
liarly assisted  in  discharging  the  duties  which  devolve 
upon  me,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  My  lectures  are 
to  me  an  almost  constant  source  of  enjoyment.  I  find 
the  sanctuary  a  delight.  But,  during  some  part  of  the 
present  week,  I  have  been  uncommonly  blessed.  I 
have,  at  the  present  moment,  an  almost  overwhelming 
sense  of  the  mercy  of  God  to  me.  My  mind  is  actu- 
ally too  much  affected  with  it,  to  be  fit  for  active  duty. 
I  contemplate  and  wonder.  Can  it  be  that  so  vile  and 
worthless  a  worm  of  the  dust  is  permitted  to  take  hold 
of  the  promises  of  God  ?  May  /  go  to  the  never-failing 
source  of  happiness,  and  drink  forever  ?  Is  the  all- 
merciful  Savior,  with  his  richest  favors,  mine  ?  Yes, 
he  is  mine ;  my  elder  brother ;  for  I  possess  the  spirit 
of  adoption,  and  can  look  up  and  call  God  my  Father. 
The  blessings  of  redemption  are  mine,  for  my  *  life 
is  hid  with  Christ  in  God,'  and  none  shall  be  able  to 
pluck  it  out  of  the  hands  of  God. 

I  need  not,  then,  fear  the  approach  of  calamity  and 
death. — I  do  not.     But  I  do  greatly  fear  that  I  shall 


REV.    im.    BALDWIN.  229 

be  left  to  grieve  that  Holy  Spirit  by  which  I  am 
sealed.  I  cannot  bear  the  thought  of  doing  one  thing 
or  of  saying  one  word,  which  shall  bring  an  injury 
upon  the  cause  of  Christ.  I  love  thee,  O  my  Savior  ! 
Thou  hast  unfolded  to  me  thine  ineffable  beauties.  I 
cannot  describe,  I  cannot  speak,  but  I  can,  and  do,  feel 
them.  And  I  long  to  be  with  thee  w^here  thou  art, 
that  I  may  behold  thy  glory.  I  would  not  hasten  un- 
called into  thy  presence ;  all  the  days  of  my  appointed 
time  would  I  cheerfully  wait,  till  my  change  come ; 
but  most  pleasant  to  me,  will  be  the  approach  of  thy 
messenger,  to  take  me  hence.  I  do  long  to  have  fin- 
ished my  course,  that  I  may  be  rendered  pure  from  my 
iniquities. 

"  God  is  giving  me  constantly  increasing  encourage- 
ment to  labor  in  this  place.  The  number  of  my  hear- 
ers and  friends  is  increasing.  Some  individuals  are 
experiencing  the  convicting  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  God  grant  that  they  may  be  brought  to  rejoice 
in  atoning  blood." 

Such  feelings  must  have  given  great  unction  to  the 
preacher.  And  therefore  the  people  soon  began  to 
exhibit  their  deep  concern  in  the  truths  that  thus  came 
from  his  lips.  Feb.  21,  he  says,  "Our  little  place  of 
worship  has  been  tolerably  well  filled,  morning  and 
evening  ;  in  the  afternoon  it  was  crowded.  The  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  was  evidently  in  the  midst  of  us.  Several 
individuals  were  deeply  affected  and  wept ;  especially 
during  the  evening-service.  With  such  scenes  before 
me,  and  with  such  feelings  as  I  have  this  evening  ex- 
perienced, I  cannot  greatly  doubt  my  interest  in  the 
great  salvation.  I  love  thee,  0  my  precious  Redeemer! 
I  love  thee  as  I  love  no  other  being.     And  thou  mani- 


230  MEMOIR   OF 

festest  to  rae,  guilty  and  worthless  as  I  am,  that  thou 
hast  accepted  the  offerings  of  my  heart.  I  will  not 
doubt,  for  my  help  is  laid  upon  thy  arm,  and  my  salva- 
tion is  secured  by  thy  promise.  I  do  not  question  thy 
faithfulness.  Though  thou  shouldst  slay  me,  yet  would 
I  trust  in  thee ;  though  I  should  walk  through  the  val- 
ley of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  would  fear  no  evil." 

In  a  communication  to  the  Missionary  Board,  of  the 
2d  of  March  following,  he  says,  -"I  am  happy  to  ac- 
quaint the  Board  that  God  still  continues  to  this  people 
the  refreshing  influences  of  his  Spirit.  There  has,  in- 
deed, scarcely  been  a  time,  since  the  commencement  of 
my  labors  here,  when  we  could  not  point  to  individu- 
als who  were  the  subjects  of  religious  impressions  of  the 
most  decided  character  ;  and  though  some,  whose  anx- 
ieties are  awakened,  return  to  their  former  state  of 
carelessness,  others  are  brought  to  submit  themselves 
to  the  Savior,  and  to  find  deliverance  in  him.  In- 
stances of  the  latter  kind  have  multiplied  of  late,  and 
we  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  good  work  is  con- 
siderably on  the  increase." 

Of  this  work  of  refreshing  he  further  writes  in  his 
diary  : — ^^  March  19.  Last  evening  the  session  of  this 
church  met,  and  received  to  their  communion  17  per- 
sons, of  whom  13  were  from  the  world,  and  3  recently 
converted.  Thus  God  succeeds  the  efforts  of  his  peo- 
ple in  this  neighborhood.  Several  hopeful  converts 
hope  to  be  able  to  unite  with  us  the  next  communion, 
and  the  good  work  is  still  progressing.  *  Bless  the 
Lord,  0  my  squI  !' 

"  April  4.  Have  had  a  full  and  attentive  audience 
this  morning.  The  Spirit  of  God  is  still  operating 
among  us. — I  think  that,  at  no  former  period,  was  the 


RF.V.    DR.    BALDWIN.  231 

work  SO  interesting  and  powerful.  I  feel  somewhat 
animated  and  strengthened  in  it,  but  neither  love,  nor 
faith,  nor  zeal,  answerable  to  the  day.  0  divine  Sav- 
ior I  give  me  more  abundant  grace — give  me  more 
devotedness  to  thy  cause." 

The  work  of  completing  the  church-edifice  did  not 
progress  according  to  expectations.  Many  of  the  sub- 
scriptions, though  made  in  good  faith,  were  never  real- 
ized. Early  in  1819  this  country,  in  common  with  the 
whole  commercial  world,  was  visited  "  with  great  and 
unexampled  pecuniary  embarrassments,  deeply  affect- 
ing the  condition  of  all  classes  of  persons  in  the  land. 
In  the  month  of  May,  upwards  of  forty  houses  in  the 
cotton-trade  failed  in  a  single  week  ;  and  so  great  w^as 
the  distress,  that  the  President  was  entreated  to  con- 
vene Congress  as  early  as  possible,  in  consideration  of 
the  calamitous  state  of  the  Union."' 

This  pressure  began  to  be  severely  felt  in  Great 
Britain  on  the  event  of  the  General  Peace  in  1815, 
was  greatly  aggravated  by  the  almost  total  failure  of 
the  crops  in  the  unexampled  cold  summer  of  1816,  and 
continued  for  years  afterwards,  reducing  tens  of  thou- 
sands from  opulence  to  beggary,  and  the  poorer  classes 
to  the  very  borders  of  starvation.  So  extensive  were 
the  failures  in  this  country  during  the  spring  and  sum- 
mer of  1819,  that  every  thing  like  commercial  confi- 
dence was  almost  annihilated  throughout  the  United 
States.  In  the  autumn  it  was  estimated  that  there 
were  20,000  persons  daily  seeking  employment  in  the 
city  of  New-York,  and  as  many  in  Philadelphia  unable 
to  find  the  means  of  comfortable  subsistence. 

In  this  state  of  things,  it  was  found  to  be  impossible 
for  the  congregation  under  Mr.  Baldwin's  care,  having 


232  MEMOIR   OF 

exhausted  their  means,  and  being  already  embarrassed 
\vith  debt,  to  proceed  with  the  work  of  finishing  their 
house  of  worship,  and  it  was  reluctantly  suspended  for 
a  time. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Baldwin  in  the  city, 
in  November,  1817,  he  had  formed  an  acquaintance 
with  Miss  Julia  C.  Baldwin,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  who 
was  then  on  a  visit  to  one  of  their  mutual  friends. 
This  acquaintance  soon  resulted  in  a  permanent  friend- 
ship, and  an  engagement  to  live  for  each  other,  and  the 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness.  The  correspondence 
W'hich  resulted  from  these  engagements  was  strictly 
religious  in  its  character,  and  as  pure  as  the  most  fas- 
tidious could  desire.  It  manifested  on  his  part  a  desire 
above  all  things,  that  the  beloved  of  his  heart  should 
be  eminently  qualified  by  every  grace,  intellectual  and 
spiritual,  to  be  the  companion  of  a  gospel-minister,  and 
a  helper  to  him  in  his  arduous  work. 

The  following  extract  from  this  correspondence  is 
subjoined  as  a  specimen.  It  contains  some  useful  hints 
on  epistolary  writing  and  Christian  influence,  and  is 
part  of  a  long  and  interesting  letter  of  two  sheets. 

"  The  pleasure  which  we  derive  from  letters  depends 
very  much  upon  the  amount  of  information  that  they 
contain.  'That,'  Dr.  Dwight  would  say, '  is  a  good 
letter.  It  contains  facts.'  The  best  religious  intelli- 
gence, together  with  the  most  interesting  occurrences 
in  our  family  or  neighborhood,  but  especially  a  simple 
and  minute  account  of  our  own  affairs,  thoughts,  and 
conclusions  respecting  almost  every  subject,  constitute 
the  proper  materials  for  letters.  I  would  by  no  means 
exclude  description  and  sprightly  remark.  There  is 
scarcely  a  more  useful  exercise  than  giving  the  charac- 


KEY.    DR.    BA],DWL\.  233 

ter  of  the  books  we  read,  or,  where  it  can  be  done 
safely,  of  the  persons  with  whom  we  associate. 

"This  leads  me  to  express  a  thought  that  has  often 
occm'red  to  me,  viz.,  that  it  is  desirable  to  have  posses^ 
sion  of  every  avenue  to  the  hearts  of  men.  I  would  cul- 
tivate my  taste  in  order  to  recommend  religion  to  my 
fellow-men  through  the  medium  of  taste.  I  would,  if 
possible,  become  acquainted  with  many  of  the  little 
items  of  politeness,  otherwise  useless,  to  catch  a  few 

such  persons  as  M in  their  wanderings  from  God. 

For  the  same  reasons,  I  would  avoid,  in  my  conversa- 
tion with  the  world,  many  religious  phrases,  which 
they  do  not  understand ;  but  which  are  always  accom- 
panied, to  their  minds,  by  degrading  associations. 
Christians  become  so  accustomed  to  each  other's  phra- 
seology, that  they  frequently  use  words  improperly. 
'  We  have  had,'  some  would  say,  *  a  revival  in  our 
society.'  '  A  revival  of  what  V  asks  a  man  of  the 
world.  And  he  does  it  correctly  enough,  too,  if  dic- 
tionaries and  the  best  use  of  language  is  regarded. 
Again,  we  talk  of  twenty  sinners  being  under  convic- 
tion. '  Convicted  of  what  V  the  man  of  the  world 
again  asks.  It  is  a  style  of  conversation  made  up  of 
such  phrases,  which  is  sometimes  denominated  re/^o-zoz^^ 
ci7\t.  Now  I  would  throw  aside  every  thing  in  my  in- 
tercourse with  men,  that  would  unnecessarily  preju- 
dice their  minds  against  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

"But  here  comes  the  difficulty.  The  world  are,  in 
fact,  opposed  to  real  godliness  in  any  shape.  My  en- 
deavors to  conform  to  them  in  things  indifferent,  brings 
me  to  the  borders  of  transgression.  I  know  of  but  one 
way  to  escape  the  danger ; — constant  and  prayerful 
watchfulness  against  it.     If  we  frequently  consult  the 


234  MEMOIR    OF 

word  of  God,  and  pious  books,  and  take  the  advice  of 
pious,  judicious  friends,  we  shall  not  greatly  err.  After 
all,  must  not  the  Christian  who  would  do  his  duty  and 
live  in  accordance  with  his  profession,  calculate  on 
being  thought  singular  ?  He  must.  But  his  piety 
should  rather  be  singular  in  degree  than  complexion.'' 

After  a  familiar  acquaintance,  resulting  in  a  con- 
stantly-increasing mutual  esteem  and  attachment,  they 
were  united  together  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock,  at  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1819.  It  was  a  day 
to  which  neither  of  them  ever  looked  back  but  with  un- 
feigned gratitude  to  God.  Eminently  fitted  as  he  was 
for  the  conjugal  relation,  his  union  w-ith  the  chosen  ob- 
ject of  his  affections  made  him  both  a  happier  and 
more  useful  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Their 
union  was 


-harmony  itself, 


Attuning  all  their  passions  into  love  • 

Wliere  friendship  full  exerts  her  softest  pow'r, 

Perfect  esteem  enliven'd  by  desire 

Ineffable,  and  sympathy  of  soul  ; 

Tiioiight  meeting  thought,  and  will  preventing  Vy- 

With  boundless  confidence," 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  235 


CHAPTER    X. 

Pecuniary  troubles. — The  prospect  brightens. — Birth  of  a  son. — 
Visits  Connecticut. — House  of  worship  completed. — Installa- 
tion.— A  season  of  revival. — Death  of  his  first-born. — Visit  to 
Piitsfield,  Mass. — Becomes  Secretary  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety. 

A  FEW  weeks  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Baldwin  was 
afflicted  with  a  severe  illness,  which  for  several  weeks 
interrupted  his  hitherto-unintermitted  labors. 

His  mind,  for  some  time  after  his  recovery,  was  far 
from  being  in  a  high  spiritual  frame.  The  excitement 
attendant  upon  his  commencing  a  householder,  and  the 
necessary  occupation  of  his  mind,  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent,  in  affairs  more  secular  than  those  to  which  he 
had  become  accustomed,  deprived  him  of  that  compo- 
sure which  he  so  greatly  coveted. 

He  gradually,  however,  recovered  his  composure 
and  peace,  as  appears  from  the  following  record  : 

"Dec.  26.  Am  disposed  to  testify  this  evening  to 
the  goodness  of  God  extended  to  me.  He  has  mani- 
festly afforded  me  his  assistance,  in  the  exercises  of  this 
day.  I  think  I  have  experienced  his  love  shed  abroad 
in  my  soul ;  and  that  I  have  an  increasing  desire  to  be 
diligent,  self-denying  and  useful  in  his  service.  There 
appears  to  be  some  indications  of  a  religious  revival 
and  reformation  among  us.  God- grant  that  we  may 
not  be  disappointed  in  our  hopes;  and  that  nothing 
may  be  found  either  in  the  preacher,  or  God's  pro- 
fessing people  here,  to  intercept  the  blessing." 


236 


MEMOIR    OF 


During  the  whole  of  the  year  18 19,  the  congrega- 
tion were  greatly  embarrassed  through  the  pressure  of 
the  times.  The  work  of  completing  their  church-edi- 
fice was  entirely  suspended.  In  the  month  of  June, 
they  were  driven  to  the  measure  of  making  a  general 
appeal  to  the  charities  of  the  Christian  community  in 
the  city.  They  were  encumbered  with  debt,  to  the 
amount  of  more  than  $6000,  and  their  creditors  were 
pressing  them  for  the  payment  of  their  obligations. 
Judgment  had  already  been  obtained  against  them  at 
law,  and  their  property  was  liable  to  be  sold  under  the 
hammer.  There  seemed  to  be  but  little  prospect  of  re- 
lief. Every  day  the  darkness  thickened.  Ordinary 
faith  would  have  failed  in  such  an  emergency,  and  the 
enterprise  itself  perhaps  have  been  abandoned. 

These  trials  greatly  affected  the  susceptible  heart  of 
the  self-denying  missionary.— Under  date  of  Feb.  27, 
1820,  he  writes, — "  The  Lord  is  laying  upon  me  trials 
of  a  peculiar  kind.  His  providence,  in  regard  to  this 
people  are,  beyond  measure,  dark.  I  know  that  we 
deserve  affliction.  Yes,  blessed  God  !  thou  layest  upon 
us  not  the  half  of  what  our  transgressions  deserve ; 
but,  Oh  !  spare  thy  people,  and  give  not  thy  heritage 
to  reproach.  Let  not  the  enemy  have  occasion  to  tri- 
umph over  us. — The  situation  of  my  people,  in  regard 
to  their  pecuniary  affairs,  has  tried  me.  I  fear  that  I 
do  not  experience  that  submission,  which  is  justly  re- 
quired of  God." 

At  this  very  time,  however,  help  was  at  hand.  Six 
days  afterwards  he  records  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  as 
follows  : — "  March  4.  It  becomes  me  to  make  mention 
of  the  loving-kindness  of  God  towards  the  people 
among  whom  I  labor.     The  trustees  have,  during  the 


REV.    DK.    BALDWIN.  237 

present  week,  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  desired  loan 
of  §6,800,  and  taken  up  the  notes  which  threatened 
the  most  distressing  pecuniary  embarrassments.  We 
have  now  the  prospect  of  seeing  the  church  completed 
by  the  first  of  May.  This  event  is,  to  me,  one  of  the 
most  encouraging  nature.  It  shows  the  watchful  care 
of  Providence  over  this  institution.  May  the  God  of 
all  grace  still  be  our  helper.  To  thee,  thee  only,  would 
I  look  up." 

The  amount  of  the  above-mentioned  loan  was  re- 
ceived on  the  3d  of  March,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
the  day  following,  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer;  all  the 
remainder  had  been  absorbed  in  the  liquidation  of  their 
debts.  Yet  with  this  small  sum  only  in  hand,  they 
went  forward,  trusting  in  God  to  carry  them  through 
the  work  of  completing  their  house  of  worship. 

Encouraged  by  the  brightening  prospect,  Mr.  Bald- 
win now  speaks  like  another  man  :  "  March  19.  Ex- 
perienced a  delightful  calmness  of  spirit  this  morning. 
'  The  Lord  reigns,  let  the  earth  rejoice,  let  the  multi- 
tude of  the  isles  be  o;lad  thereof  His  dealino-s  with 
me  and  the  people  among  whom  I  labor,  are  singularly 
kind  and  merciful.  The  church  is  still  protected, — the 
cono^reo-ation  still  increases  : — and  we  have  now  the 
prospect  of  seeing  the  house  of  worship,  on  which  so 
many  prayers  and  self-denying  exertions  have  been 
bestowed,  speedily  finished; — and,  what  is  infinitely 
more  desirable,  we  seem  to  have  the  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  among  us." 

An  event  now  occurred  which  gave  rise  to  an  en- 
tirely new  class  of  emotions,  and  drew  forth  from  his 
lips  renewed  acknowledgments  of  the  divine  bounty. 


238  MEMOIR    OF 

On  the  first  of  Jnne  he  became  the  happy  father  of  his 
first-born  child. — "  June  4.  Am  not  a  little  affected 
in  view  of  the  mercies  which  have  recently  been  con- 
ferred upon  my  family.  My  dear  wife  was,  last  Thurs- 
day night,  delivered  of  a  promising  son,  whom  we 
hope  to  have  the  privilege  of  educating  for  God.  He 
came  to  us  the  first  day  of  June ;  a  day  long  to  be  re- 
membered by  us,  and  by  me  in  particular." 

The  house  of  worship  w^as  shortly  after  completed, 
and  on  the  third  Sabbath  of  June,  (18th,)  solemnly  set 
apart  to  the  service  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church. 
On  this  occasion,  sermons  were  preached  by  the  Rev. 
Drs.  Spring  and  Romeyn,  and  the  Rev.  P.  M.  Whelp- 
ley. 

"Jwwe  25.  Preached  to-day,  for  the  first  time,  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  church.  Audience  probably  one 
third  laro-er  than  we  were  accustomed  to  have  in  the 

o 

basement-story  ;  but  still  it  appeared  extremely  small. 
Small  it  certainly  is,  considering  the  hundreds  who 
might  ver}^  well  attend;  and  who  now  spend  their 
Sabbaths  in  every  species  of  worldly  employment  or 
unprofitable  amusement." 

His  diary  through  the  summer  shows  that  the  feeble 
state  of  his  health  had  an  unfavorable  effect  upon  his 
spirits,  and  at  times  to  take  a  most  gloomy  view  of  his 
religious  state.  Thus  he  exclaims,  Aug.  20  :  "  Much 
in  the  dark ; — unfaithful  in  all  things.  I  see  nothing 
but  sin  in  myself; — fear  that  I  never  did  any  thing  but 
sin." 

The  greater  part  of  the  month  of  September  was 
spent  in  visiting  his  friends  in  Connecticut. — "  I  took 
my  journey,"  he  says,  "through  Norwalk,  where  I 
left  my  wife  and  little  son,  and  proceeded  through 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  239 

Fairfield,  where  I  spent  the  first  Sabbath,  to  New- 
Haven  and  to  Durham.  I  spent  my  second  Sabbath 
at  Litchfield,  and  my  third  in  Durham.  The  Lord  is 
reviving  his  work  at  New-Haven,  in  the  most  gracious 
manner.  Yale  College  has  been  visited.  About  thirty 
students  are  hoping  in  Christ.  The  number  of  hopeful 
converts  in  town  is  much  larger,  and  the  w^ork  still 
continues.  I  think  I  felt  some  satisfaction  in  observing 
its  features  and  progress.  My  mind  has  been  more 
serious  for  several  weeks  past,  and  I  have  thought  that 
I  do  experience,  at  times,  a  spirit  of  devotion." 

The  completion  of  the  church-edifice,  cheering  as  it 
was  to  him  and  the  people,  deeply  involved  the  con- 
gregation. Their  indebtedness  in  October,  1820,  was 
nearly  $9000.  The  amount  receivable  from  the  rent- 
ing of  pews  was  not  sufficient  to  pay  the  interest  of 
the  debt,  and  the  collections  taken  every  Sabbath 
barely  sufficient  to  pay  the  incidental  expenses.  This 
state  of  things  afforded  but  a  poor  prospect  of  support 
for  a  pastor  and  his  family.  Yet,  relying  on  the  continued 
patronage  of  the  Missionary  Society,  the  congregation 
met  on  the  30th  of  October,  and  unanimously  resolved 
to  invite  Mr.  Baldwin  to  become  their  pastor,  at  a 
yearly  salary  of  $800.  The  manner  in  which  he  re- 
ceived the  call  appears  from  the  following  letter  to  his 
parents,  dated  Dec.  13  : 

"  I  have  often  been  led  to  wonder,  when  I  have  con- 
sidered the  way  in  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  lead 
me,  these  ten  years  past.  Scarcely  any  one  of  my  great 
plans  for  life  has  been  accomplished ;  and  yet  Provi- 
dence has  continued  to  succeed  and  to  bless  me.  I  am 
made  to  pursue  an  unexpected  and  sometimes  perplex- 


240  MEMOIR    OF 

ing  path,  but  I  appear  to  myself  to  be  most  kindly  di- 
rected. 

"  My  labors  in  this  city,  particularly,  are  what  I  did 
not  anticipate.  I  came  hither  from  Massachusetts  with 
my  apparel,  manuscripts,  and  books,  all  well  packed 
for  a  long  journey.  My  probable  destination  then  was 
the  region  of  Buffalo  for  the  succeeding  winter,  and 
Ohio  for  the  summer.  But  I  was  stopped  here  and  set 
to  work  among  the  lanes  and  suburbs  of  this  city.  Ex- 
perience taught  both  the  Society  and  myself,  the  wis- 
dom of  confining  my  labors  tD  a  given  section  of  the 
city.  I  had  one  assigned,  which  was  populous,  but 
immoral  and  extremely  destitute  of  the  means  of  grace. 
There  was  no  preaching  of  any  sect  near  me,  except- 
ing occasional  lectures.  Probably  not  one  in  ten  indi- 
viduals, of  the  thousands  around  me,  attended  at  any 
church,  or  gave  the  Christian  Sabbath  any  respect. 

"  Among  this  large  and  increasing,  but  extremely 
destitute  people,  I  commenced  preaching  the  gospel. 
The  Lord  succeeded  my  very  defective  labors, — poured 
out  his  Spirit  upon  the  hearers, — enabled  us  to  form  a 
church, — and  to  commence  the  effort  of  erecting  a 
house  for  his  worship.  The  church  and  congregation 
were,  soon  after  their  formation,  received  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery,  and  have  continued  to  increase. 
The  former  now  contains  more  than  one  hundred  mem- 
bers ;  and  the  latter  about  that  number  of  families. 
Both  are  collected  in  a  great  measure  from  the  high- 
ways and  hedges.  The  neighborhood  has  assumed  a 
higher  chcfracter  for  morality.  Many  persons  are  be- 
ginning to  attach  themselves  to  the  congregation,  from 
actual  experience  and  observation  of  its  happy  influ- 


REV.    Dll.    BALDWIN.  241 

ence  and  manifest  prosperity.  The  church,  which  is 
now  finished,  will  accommodate  eight  hundred  or  a 
thousand  persons.  It  is  a  neat  building,  and  hand- 
somely painted.  Beyond  this,  we  still  observe  a 
movement  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  congregation. 
Three  instances  of  hopeful  conversion  have  occurred 
within  a  few  weeks,  and  some  other  persons  are  re- 
ligiously impressed. 

"  Such,  my  dear  parents,  has  been  the  success  of 
ray  feeble  efforts  for  Christ  in  this  city.  I  have  drawn 
around  me  a  young  and  growing  church  and  congrega- 
tion. Many  of  this  church  look  to  me  as  to  their  spir- 
itual father;  and  the  congregation  in  general  place  in 
me  a  confidence  which  far  transcends  my  deserts. 
What,  then,  can  I  say  to  a  unanimous  and  urgent  ap- 
plication of  this  people  to  me,  to  become  their  settled 
pastor  ?  Such  an  application  has  been  made, — with- 
out a  dissenting  voice,  or  an  opposing  individual.  I 
endeavored  to  prevent  it,  and  to  turn  their  attention  to 
another  person,  that  I  might  be  left  free  to  find  a  place, 
and,  if  the  will  of  God  had  so  directed,  to  settle  in  the 
country.  But  I  found  it  impossible  to  control  the 
choice  of  the  people.  The  appearance,  and,  indeed, 
the  declaration  was,  that  if  I  left  the  congregation, 
many  of  its  members  would  leave  it; — and  perhaps  the 
institution  itself  would  come  to  nothing.  I  have  con- 
sidered the  will  of  God,  in  this  case,  to  be  sufficiently 
plain.  My  Christian  friends  concur  with  me  in  this 
opinion.  Preparations  are  accordingly  making  for  my 
installation,  the  25th  of  this  month.  The  whole  ar- 
rangement has  been  contrary  to  my  choice.  I  prefer 
the  country  ; — I  long  for  the  sight,  if  I  cannot  long  en- 
joy the  society,  of  my  nearest  relatives; — but  I  can 
11 


242  MEMOIR   OF 

only  say — ^  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.'  And  I  hope 
that  you  will  be  enabled  to  say  it." 

In  his  annual  communication  to  the  Board  of  Direct- 
ors, at  the  close  of  the  third  year  of  his  missionary  la- 
bors, he  sums  up  the  result  as  follows : 

"  I  have  regularly  maintained  three  services  on  the 
Lord's  day,  and,  in  general,  two  lectures  during  the 
week  ;  besides  conducting  stated  meetings  for  prayer, 
visiting  the  sick,  attending  funerals,  and  devoting  a 
large  portion  of  my  time  to  family-instruction.  I  wish 
I  could  add,  that  w^e  have  observed  Christ's  special 
presence,  and  the  reviving  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
evidently  pervading  our  frequent  assemblies. — Some 
instances  of  religious  concern  and  apparent  conversion 
have  been  witnessed  ;  and  from  present  appearances 
we  are  encouraged  to  hope,  that  God  has  not  with- 
drawn from  us  his  Holy  Spirit.  Considerable  attention 
has  been  paid  to  the  instruction  of  children,  particularly 
those  of  the  church  and  congregation.  The  feeble  state 
of  my  health,  during  a  portion  of  the  year,  has  prevent- 
ed my  doing  for  them  all  that  I  could  have  wished. 
When  health  and  other  circumstances  have  permitted, 
I  have  maintained  a  catechetical  lecture,  and  such 
other  services  as  seemed  most  likely  to  advance  their 
knowledge  and  interest  in  divine  things. 

*'  We  have  also  connected  with  the  congregation  two 
Sabbath-Schools,  both  at  present  very  flourishing, 
which  are  principally  under  the  direction  of  persons 
professing  godliness. 

"  In  shoft,  it  is  manifest,  that  the  best  of  causes  is 
rapidly  gaining  ground  in  this  section  of  the  city. 
When  I  reflect  on  its  neglected  and  fearful  situa- 
tion three  years  since,  and  consider  the  steps,  by  which 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  243 

the  hope  expressed  in  the  first  annual  report  of  your 
Society  respecting  it  has  been  realized,  I  am  forced  to 
exclaim, — 'What  halh  God  wrought!'  He  has  evi- 
dently followed  our  feeble  and  unworthy  exertions 
with  his  gracious  smiles. 

"  The  gospel-standard  is  now  fairly  erected  in  this 
neighborhood ;  the  house  of  God,  just  completed,  will, 
by  the  ordinary  blessing  of  Providence,  soon  be  filled 
with  worshippers.  An  association  of  Christians  is 
formed,  which  may  be  expected  to  increase  in  number 
and  in  fervor,  and  prove  a  rich  blessing  to  future  gen- 
erations. Oh !  who,  that  has  been  permitted  to  con- 
tribute in  any  degree  to  produce  this  cheering  result, 
will  not  bless  God  for  the  privilege  of  doing  it  1  Yes, 
it  shall  be  known  and  mentioned  with  holy  gratitude 
for  generations  to  come,  that  the  Seventh  Presbyterian 
church  owed  its  existence,  under  God,  to  the  Christian 
charity  of  your  benevolent  association." 

Tn  his  diary,  similar  mention  is  made  of  the  hopeful 
appearance  of  a  work  of  grace  among  his  people. 
Dec.  16,  he  remarks, — "  Had  a  pleasant  Sabbath  yes- 
terday. There  are  some  appearances  of  a  work  of 
grace  among  us.  God  grant  that  they  may  prove  gen- 
uine, and  that  the  hopes  of  his  people  may  not  be  dis- 
appointed. I  have  felt,  for  some  weeks  past,  a  more 
than  common  anxiety  for  my  people  ;  but  I  do  not  en- 
joy that  peace  in  my  own  mind,  which  I  desire.  I 
often  doubt,  greatly  doubt,  whether  I  do  in  reality  pos- 
sess that  religion  which  I  endeavor  to  recommend  to 
others." 

In  view  of  his  installation  he  engages  more  earnestly 
in  devotion :  "  Dec.  20.  Have  set  apart  this  day  as 
a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.     Think  I  have  this  morn- 


244  MEMOIR    OF 

ing  found  some  enlargement  in  the  duty  of  supplica- 
tion. My  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  this 
people  is,  that  they  may  be  saved.  I  also  experience 
a  desire  to  correct  the  faults  and  supply  the  deficiencies 
in  my  Christian  walk.  The  Lord  bestow  upon  me  a 
sincere  detestation  and  abhorrence  of  all  sin.  And  by 
his  grace  assisting  me,  I  will,  from  this  day,  renew  my 
exertions  to  be  entirely  devoted  to  his  cause." 

The  installation  took  place  on  the  evening  of  the  day 
when  he  entered  upon  the  32d  year  of  his  age.  He 
gives  the  following  account  of  it,  Jan.  2,  1821.  "  The 
25th  of  the  last  month  was  to  me  a  pecuharly  solemn 
and  interesting  day.  Brother  Cox  was,  in  the  morning, 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  Spring-street  church ;  and  in 
the  evening,  I  was,  in  like  manner,  constituted  the  sta- 
ted pastor  of  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church  and 
congregation.  My  call  had  been  unanimous,  and  I 
had  reason  to  believe  that  no  family  nor  individual  in 
the  congregation  regretted  my  settlement.  Services 
commenced  at  half-past  six  o'clock  P.  M.  Brother 
Goldsmith,  of  Newtown,  preached  the  sermon.  Brother 
M'Clelland  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Brother 
Spring  to  the  congregation." 

At  this  time  the  church  had  received  to  their  com- 
munion, including  the  original  number,  109  souls,  of 
whom  64  had  been  brought  in  from  the  world.  The 
proportion  of  males  was  small,  being  only  26,  or 
scarcely  one-fourth.  This  number  had  been  dimin- 
ished by  removals  and  deaths,  so  that  the  church 
scarcely  nufnbered,  at  the  beginning  of  1821,  a  hundred 
persons. 

It  soon  became  manifest  that  the  Spirit  of  God  was 
exerting  a   special   influence   over  the  congregation. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  245 

First,  the  preacher  himself  is  brought  to  despair  of  his 
own  wisdom,  and  to  cast  himself  on  God  :  "  Feb.  4. 
Have  a  lively  perception  o  my  unworthiness  in  the 
sight  of  God;  and  utier  insufficiency  to  convert  the 
souls  of  my  hearers.  O  my  God  !  do  thou  take  this 
work  into  thine  own  hands.  I  look  to  thee,  and  I  de- 
sire, I  long  to  see  thy  power  revealed  in  the  midst  of 
us.  Father !  glorify  thyself  here.  Make  the  stubborn 
souls  bow  to  thee." 

Then  follows  the  evidence  that  God  has  taken  the 
work  into  his  own  hands  : — "  Feb.  24.  Have  experi- 
enced, for  some  time,  a  great  degree  of  anxiety  for 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  my  flock.  I  have  particularly 
desired,  that  the  Spirit  of  God  might  be  poured  out 
upon  them  ;  and  praised  be  his  grace,  I  have  some  evi- 
dence that  I  have  not  desired  it  in  vain.  There  is 
every  proof,  that  a  work  of  God  is  begun  among  us. 
God  grant  that  it  may  continue,  progress,  and  become 
powerful.  Unto  thee,  heavenly  Father  !  do  I  look  for 
this  most  valuable  of  all  mercies.  All  my  confidence 
is  in  thee. 

"  March  2.  In  consequence  of  the  hopeful  appear- 
ances among  my  people  of  late,  I  have  devoted  this 
day  to  fasting  and  prayer.  My  heart's  desire  and 
prayer  to  God  for  this  people  is,  that  they  may  be 
saved.  But  I  do  not  experience  so  much  anxiety  for 
them  as  I  ought.  There  is  a  manifest  deficiency  in  my 
zeal  and  corresponding  exertions.  Nor  do  I  exercise 
so  much  submission  to  God  on  this  subject,  as  becomes 
one  who  professes  to  rely  on  his  faithfulness.  The  lit- 
tle which  I  do  feel  is  too  exclusively  the  feeling  of 
anxiety.  It  is  Christ's  cause,  and  he  will  take  care  of 
his  own.     The  all-wise  Jehovah  will  do  all  things  well. 


246  MEMOIR    OF 

Righteous  Father!  enable  me  to  rest  with  the  most  com- 
plete and  cheerful  confidence  in  thee.  Thine  eye  is  upon 
this  church,  and  observes  the  souls  which  thou  hast 
made.  Oh  !  let  the  bowels  of  thy  compassion  yearn 
over  them.  Come,  thou  Divine  Spirit !  and  breathe 
upon  these  slain  that  they  may  live." 

The  revival,  if  such  it  might  be  called,  was  neither 
general  nor  powerful.  About  20  persons  were  seri- 
ously awakened  and  led  to  seek  salvation,  the  greater 
part  of  whom  became  the  hopeful  subjects  of  divine 
grace. 

In  the  month  of  August,  it  pleased  God  to  call  his 
servant  to  experience  an  affliction  more  severe  than 
any  through  which  he  had  previously  been  called  to 
pass.     It  is  best  described  in  his  own  language  : 

'*  Aug.  13.  It  has  pleased  God  to  lay  his  afflictive 
hand  heavily  upon  me  and  my  family.  We  have  been 
called  to  part  with  our  little  Elihu.  He  died  Tuesday, 
7th  of  this  month,  at  half-past  5  P.  M.,  after  a  distress- 
ing sickness  of  six  days.  His  complaint  was  the  chol- 
era infantum.  His  remains  were  deposited,  Wednesday 
8th,  in  the  Rutgers-street  Presbyterian  burying-ground. 
He  was  fourteen  months  and  six  days  old. 

"  I  do  believe  that  our  little  boy  has  gone  to  a  better 
world.  We  had  the  satisfaction  of  giving  him  up  to 
God  in  baptism,  and  often  endeavored  to  renew  the 
dedication.  I  felt,  during  hii;  sickness,  a  strong  pro- 
pensity to  pray  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul,  and  but 
little  freedom  in  pleading  for  his  restoration  to  health. 
God  has  done  all  things  well. — We  loved  our  sweet 
babe  by  far  too  much,  and  he  has,  mercifully  for  us 
and  him,  removed  him  from  us." 

A  fortnight  after  this  heavy  affliction,  he  and  his 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  247 

companion  left  the  city  on  a  visit  to  Pittsfield,  Mass., 
where  God  was  at  that  time  pouring  out  his  Spirit  in  a 
remarkable  manner,  upon  the  congregation  under  the 
care  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  former  friend  and  pastor  in 
Fairfield,  the  Rev.  H.  Humphrey.  Here  his  labors 
were  abundant  and  greatly  productive  of  good. 

"  Sept.  21.  We  sailed  from  New-York  on  Thurs- 
day, (Aug.  23,)  and  did  not  reach  Hudson  till  Sabbath 
morning,  w^here  I  spent  the  day,  and  preached  three 
times  for  Brother  Staunton.  I  reached  Pittsfield  the 
next  Monday,  and  found  Brother  Humphrey  and  family 
in  pleasant  circumstances,  and  the  church  and  congre- 
gation blessed  with  a  glorious  revival  of  religion.  I 
continued  in  Pittsfield  about  two  weeks,  attending 
many  meetings,  and  preaching  often  to  large  and  sol- 
emn assemblies.  I  preached  from  Mark  12  :  6,  Luke 
15 :  10,  Acts  9:11,  Rom.  1 :  16,  Heb.  2 :  3,  John  3  : 
19,  Acts  24  :  25,  1  Thess.  5  :  19,  Eccl.  11:4.  The 
work  appeared  to  continue  in  all  its  power. 

"  My  companion  and  myself  received  from  the  peo- 
ple every  attention  that  we  could  wish,  and,  in  truth, 
more  than  we  could  well  get  along  with.  On  my  de- 
parture, I  was  generously  presented  with  thirty-five 
dollars,  as  an  expression  of  their  gratitude  for  my  la- 
bors among  them. 

"  I  stopped,  on  my  return,  at  Hudson,  where  I  gave 
an  account  to  Brother  Staunton's  people  of  the  revival 
in  Pittsfield  ; — reached  New-York  on  Friday,  the  fourth 
week  after  having  left  it,  with  my  wife  in  better  health, 
and  myself  not  a  little  recovered  from  a  three  months' 
debility." 

In  his  annual  report  to  the  Board,  made  Oct.  9,  he 
states,  that  of  the  30  added  to  the  church  during  the 


248  MEMOIR    OF 

year,  24  had  made  profession  of  their  faith  in  Christ, 
and  that  all  but  two  of  them  were  heads  of  families. 
He  also  speaks  of  having  conducted  many  familiar  lec- 
tures and  prayer-meetings  in  private  houses :  "  I  have 
literally  -preached  from  house  to  house ;  and  the  Lord 
has  been  pleased  graciously  to  own  this  method  of  in- 
struction, as  a  means  of  preserving  in  lively  exercise  a 
spirit  of  prayer  and  Christian  love,  as  well  as  of  bring- 
ing sinners  to  the  reception  of  the  truth.  My  efforts  in 
this  way  have  strongly  impressed  my  mind,  in  favor  of 
recommending  a  like  course  to  the  more  general  atten- 
tion of  clergymen  in  this  city.  These  familiar  lectures 
might  form  a  happy  medium  between  the  public  ser- 
vices of  the  sanctuary,  w^hich  are  too  elevated  and  dis- 
tant to  interest  some  of  our  people ;  and  the  religious 
visits  of  the  pastor,  w'hich  become  embarrassing  and 
overwhelming  to  others.  They  have,  by  the  blessing 
of  God,  served  very  much  to  advance  the  prosperity  of 
this  conorrep-ation." 

He  seems  to  have  had  the  most  sanguine  expecta- 
tions of  the  greatness  of  the  blessings  that  were  to 
come  upon  the  congregation,  and  through  them  upon 
the  city.  "  It  requires,"  he  says,  "  but  little  discern- 
ment, and  no  great  skill  in  calculation,  to  perceive  that 
the  operations  of  the  Society  have  been  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  this  section  of  the  city ;  and  yet  we  believe 
that  the  major  part  of  the  blessing  is  still  to  come." 

His  diary  about  this  time  shows  with  what  earnest- 
ness he  panted  after  the  blessings  of  full  assurance. 
"  JS^'ov.  3.  /Am  pressed  with  the  necessity  of  becoming 
a  more  spiritual  and  devoted  Christian.  I  cannot  be 
contented  with  merely  possessing  some  little  hope  of 
my  acceptance  w^ith  Christ ;  I  wish,  I  long  for  Chris- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  249 

tian  assurance,  to  be  a  man  full  of  faith  and  of  good 
works.  My  sinfulness  is  a  burden  too  heavy  to  be  en- 
dured. I  am  like  a  captive  sold  under  sin.  When 
shall  the  hour  of  deliverance,  the  year  of  jubilee,  come 
to  my  soul  ?  *  Lord  !  I  believe  j  help  thou  my  unbe- 
lief.' " 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed the  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Society  in  whose 
employment  he  was  laboring,  and  on  him  it  devolved 
to  prepare  their  Annual  Report  for  the  year  1821.  In 
the  close  of  this  report  his  ardent  missionary  spirit  is 
clearly  exhibited.  "  The  result  of  five  years'  practical 
attention  to  this  subject,  is  an  overwhelming  conviction, 
that  scarcely  one  in  twenty  of  professing  Christians, 
and  a  still  smaller  proportion  of  our  churches,  are 
thoroughly  awake  to  the  present  solemn  call  for  mis- 
sionary exertions.  Without  adverting  to  pagan  Asia, 
to  Africa  and  the  islands  of  the  South  Sea,  or  to  the 
wide-spreading  harvest,  beginning  to  be  white  for  the 
sickle,  from  the  borders  of  our  country  to  the  Southern 
Cape ;  our  own  settlements,  planted,  and  from  year  to 
year  increased,  by  our  enterprising  population,  present 
a  field  for  missions  which  has  no  parallel.  Only  let  the 
standard  of  the  cross  move  onward  with  every  new 
emigration  to  the  South  and  West,  and  a  few  revolving 
years  will  disclose  the  sublime  spectacle  of  a  people, 
blessed  with  the  Bible  and  religious  teachers,  and  all 
the  means  of  grace,  and  variety  of  civil  and  religious 
privileges,  inhabiting  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  from 
Mexico  to  the  farthest  country  of  the  North. 

"  The  present  generation  of  American  Christians  and 
their  immediate  descendants,  seem  destined  by  Provi- 
dence to  give  religious  and  moral  character  to  a  people, 
11* 


260  MEMOIR    OF 

more  numerous  and  enterprising  and  distinguished  for 
arts  and  science  than  the  world  has  ever  seen.  Shall  we 
tamely  permit  that  character  to  be  the  stain  of  infidelity, 
and  the  disgrace  of  every  vice  ?  Shall  we  look  on 
with  cold  indifference,  while  our  rising  cities  become, 
through  the  prevalence  of  error  and  crime,  so  many 
sources  of  corruption  to  every  part  of  our  land  ?  Will 
piety,  will  Christian  patriotism,  fold  her  hands,  W'hile 
each  succeeding  wave  of  emigration  westward  presents 
a  darker  and  still  darker  aspect,  until  our  nation  shall 
meet  in  character,  as  it  comes  in  contact  with,  the 
heathen  tribes  of  Asia  ?" 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  in  December  he  was  chosen 
the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Society,  to  succeed 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Spring,  w^ho  had  until  now  been  its  most 
ardent  friend  and  faithful  servant,  and  w-ho  felt  con- 
strained to  decline  on  account  of  other  eno^aorements  a 
re-election.  Previous,  however,  to  this  event,  Mr. 
Baldwin  had  not  only  taken  the  liveliest  interest  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  Society,  but  had  devoted  no  small 
portion  of  his  time  to  the  business-affairs  of  the  Board. 
It  was  voted  in  January,  1819,  by  the  Board,  "  that  in 
consideration  of  the  faithful  and  indefatigable  labors  of 
the  Rev.  Elihu  W.  Baldwin,  in  the  service  of  this  So- 
ciety, two  hundred  dollars  be  presented  him."  The 
interest,  which  he  thus  early  manifested  and  cultivated 
in  the  cause  of  Home-Missions,  continued  to  character- 
ize his  subsequent  course. 


RKV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  251 


CHAPTER    XI. 

A  General  Revival  in  the  city. — United  Domestic  Missionary- 
Society  formed.— Yellow  Fever. — Birth  of  a  daughter. — La- 
bors in  a  Revival  at  Greenwich,  Con. — Also  at  Newark,  N. 
J. — Visit  to  his  parents,  in  Ohio.- Spiritual  dearth  in  the 
church. — Almost  discouraged. — Declines  a  call  to  Jamaica, 
L.  I. — Project  of  selling  the  old,  and  building  a  new,  house  of 
worship. 

The  commencement  of  the  year  1822  was  marked 
by  a  much  more  general  attention  to  religion  in  New- 
York  than  had  been  known  before; — "  more"  in  the 
Presbytery  of  New-York  "  than  in  any  preceding  period 
since  their  formation."  This  result  could  be  distinctly 
traced  to  the  more  general  and  united  supplications  of 
the  people  of  God.  A  union  prayer-meeting  was  com- 
menced in  January,  1821,  and  held  on  the  Tuesday 
afternoon  next  succeeding  the  first  Monday  in  every 
month,  in  the  Mariner's  church,  in  Roosevelt-street. 
It  was  conducted  under  the  direction  of  a  Committee 
of  Arrangements,  consisting  of  one  member  from  each 
of  six  denominations.  The  meetings  were  continued 
through  the  year,  and  in  the  following  winter,  as  the 
spiritual  concern  of  the  people  became  more  apparent, 
semi-monthly  meetings  of  a  similar  kind,  were  held  in 
other  churches. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  winter-season  the  interest 
became  quite  general.  A  fast-day  was  appointed  by 
the  Brick  church,  to  be  held  on  the  last  Tuesday  in 


252  MEMOIR    OF 

February,  1822,  to  which  they  also  invited  all  their  sis- 
ter-churches in  the  city.  The  meeting  commenced  at 
eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  continued  six  hours  without 
intermission.  The  house  was  crowded  w^th  God's 
people,  who  came  to  wrestle  for  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  upon  the  city.  One  who  was  present  gives 
the  following  description  of  the  scene  : 

"  Such  breathless,  solemn  attention,  I  can  scarcely 
hope  again  to  see,  in  my  life,  among  so  vast  a  multi- 
tude. When  Mr.  Whelpley  (pastor  of  the  Wall- street 
church)  arose  to  address  the  assembly,  in  that  unpre- 
meditated manner  to  which  he  was  not  used  in  the 
pulpit,  there  was  in  his  whole  aspect  a  bearing  and 
significance,  like  that  of  a  man  consciously  in  the  pre- 
sence of  God.  He  presented  to  the  audience  the  deso- 
lations of  that  portion  of  the  field  of  Zion  which  he 
cultivated.  He  besought  them  to  regard  the  condition 
of  that  church,  which,  as  a  fruitful  bough,  had  sent  its 
branches  over  the  wall,  which  were  now  bearing  fruit 
all  around,  while  at  the  root  there  was  decay  of  moist- 
ness  and  verdure.  The  appeal  was  so  instinct  with 
energy  and  pathos,  that  aged  men  lifted  up  their  voice 
and  wept.  This  w^as  one  of  the  most  solemn  seasons  I 
ever  witnessed.  A  blessing  manifestly  and  immediately 
followed.  That  appeal  was  answered  with  the  prayers 
of  faith,  and  these  with  a  revival  of  religion  in  his 
church,  and  many  souls  were  the  fruit  of  this  refreshing." 

In  all  these  united  efforts  for  the  promotion  of  religion 
in  the  city,  Mr.  Baldwin  zealously  participated,  and  re- 
ceived a  rich  blessing  in  return.  In  the  following  ex- 
tracts from  his  diary  at  this  period  we  perceive  the  same 
earnest  anxiety  for  his  people  that  had  hitherto  charac- 
terized all  his  ministry. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  253 

"  Feb.  1th,  1822.— For  some  weeks  past,  there  has 
been  a  more  than  common  excitement  among  Christians 
on  the  subject  of  rehgion.  It  is  manifest,  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  has  come  nigh  this  people.  I  think  that  I  feel 
his  operations  in  my  own  soul.  Some  few  sinners  have 
been  awakened,  and  one  or  two  are  rejoicing  in  Christ." 

"  March  2A.th. — For  some  months  past,  the  Lord  has 
graciously  afforded  me  much  encouragement  in  my 
labors  among  my  people.  Several  individuals,  who 
are  heads  of  families  and  promise  to  afford  considerable 
aid  in  supporting  the  gospel,  have  recently  become 
hopefully  pious.  Other  individuals  are  inquiring  after 
the  good  way.  And  I  am  hoping  for  still  greater 
things." 

"It  is  also  a  pleasing  circumstance,  which  ought  to 
be  remembered  with  the  greatest  thankfulness,  that  the 
increase  of  the  congregation,  for  the  past  six  months, 
has  exceeded  our  expectation.  God  is  manifestly  im- 
parting to  the  people  a  disposition  to  hear  the  gospel. 
Many  are,  no  doubt,  inquiring  after  the  right  way,  who 
are  not  particularly  anxious.  To  God  be  all  the 
praise." 

A  happy  specimen  both  of  his  style  and  spirit  in 
preaching  may  be  seen  in  the  closing  part  of  his  sermon 
at  the  opening  of  Presbytery,  in  April  of  this  year. 
After  showing  that  the  great  enterprise  of  the  church 
should  be  to  convert  the  world  to  God,  and  that  no 
Christian  can  escape  from  the  obligation  which  rests 
upon  him  to  engage  in  the  work,  he  adds : 

"  This  very  metropohs,  graced  as  it  is  with  conse- 
crated spires,  and  blessed  with  prayerful  inhabitants, 
affords  ample  scope  for  our  most  active  missionary  zeal. 
And  something  beyond  our  former  efforts,  or  our  present 
calculations,  must  be  done.     A  necessity  is  laid  upon 


254  MEMOIR   OF 

the  churches  in  this  city,  to  evangelize  these  30,000  of 
no  religious  creed.  Jesus  Christ  holds  his  people  here 
responsible  for  this  work.  If  the  churches  in  our  con- 
nection cannot  be  persuaded  to  give  a  more  practical 
attention  to  this  subject ;  if  the  pastors  of  our  churches, 
and  licentiates  of  our  Presbytery,  find  it  impossible  to 
pervade  this  uncultivated,  and,  to  a  great  extent,  un- 
explored field,  by  preaching  the  gospel  from  house  to 
house;  and  the  constitution  of  our  church  does  not 
admit  of  our  pious  laity  supplying,  by  their  more  private 
endeavors,  this  lack  of  Christian  instruction ; — then  may 
the  Lord  of  the  harvest  give  the  labor  and  the  reward 
of  this  noble  enterprise  to  some  other  communion. 

"  May  some  other  denomination  understand  the  ex- 
tent of  the  requirement,  to  let  their  light  shine  before 
men,— and  faithfully  obey  it.  May  other  professing 
Christians  arise,  who  shall  vindicate  their  claim  to  be 
esteemed  the  followers  of  Christ,  and  the  worthy  imi- 
tators of  his  apostles  and  martyrs,  by  preaching  the 
gospel  to  the  poor,  to  such  sinners  as  must  be  literally 
sought  after,  as  well  as  induced  by  urgent  persuasions, 
to  take  hold  on  eternal  life.  And  may  the  time  not  be 
distant  when,  through  the  waking-up  of  Christendom  to 
the  perception  of  her  obligations  and  her  privileges,  a 
host  of  faithful  laborers  for  Christ,  borne  on  the  wings 
of  prayer,  shall  spread  over  all  lands,  pervading  their 
every  district,  and  visiting  every  family  of  man ;  and 
thus  make  a  most  complete  experiment  of  the  power 
and  faithfulness  of  Jesus  Christ." 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  Presbytery  regarded 
the  subject  very  much  in  the  same  light  with  their 
Moderator ;  and  whether  induced  by  this  sermon  or 
not,  immediately  took  measures  to  enter  upon  the  work. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  255 

Four  days  afterwards  they  organized  a  "  Presbyterian 
Society  for  supplying  the  destitute,  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery  of  New-York,  with  the  means  of 
grace."  It  was  made  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  Society  "  immediately  to  take  measures  to 
ascertain  the  number  of  souls  wnthin  the  bounds  of  the 
Presbytery,  who  are  destitute  of  the  stated  preaching  of 
the  gospel  ;  select  suitable  stations  for  the  establishment 
of  new  churches  and  congregations,  and  employ  suitable 
men  to  labor  at  such  stations."  Of  this  Committee  Mr. 
Baldwin  was  appointed  a  member. 

One  of  the  results  of  this  measure  was  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Rev.  Matthias  Bruen,  (without  compensa- 
tion, however,)  from  whose  labors  resulted  the  Bleecker- 
street  church  and  congregation.  Through  their  co- 
operation, too,  the  Mission  church  in  Bancker-street, 
then  struggling  for  existence,  were  encouraged  to 
change  their  location,  and  became  the  Allen-street 
Presbyterian  church. 

In  such  labors  as  these  Mr.  B.  greatly  delighted.  He 
was  ever  ready  to  help  forward  an  enterprise  that  bade 
fair  to  rescue  the  ignorant,  the  wretched  and  the  vicious, 
from  degradation,  pollution  and  death.  Such  in  fact 
was  his  own  employment  throughout  his  ministry  : 


"  Dispensing  good  where'er  he  came, 
The  labors  of  his  life  were  love." 


The  prevalence  to  so  considerable  an  extent  of  the 
spirit  of  piety  and  brotherly  love  among  the  churches 
in  the  city,  in  consequence  of  the  revival,  brought  very 
much  to  an  end  the  alienations  and  strifes  between  the 
two  Young  Men's  Missionary  Societies,  and  disposed 


256  MEMOIR    OF 

them  to  lay  aside  their  differences.  A  convention  of 
delegates  from  several  similar  Societies  met  in  New- 
York,  on  the  10th  of  May,  and  formed  the  "  United 
Domestic  Missionary  Society,"  with  which  the  rival 
Societies  of  New-York  cheerfully  coalesced.  Mr. 
Baldwin  represented  the  Evangelical  Society,  of  which 
he  was  then  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  greatly 
rejoiced  in  the  union  thus  happily  consummated.  He 
became  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and 
actively  engaged  in  the  promotion  of  its  interests. 

The  breach  which  death  had  made  the  previous  year 
in  his  family-circle  was,  in  some  measure,  healed  by 
the  addition  to  his  family,  on  the  15th  of  May,  of  a 
female  child.  To  this  event  he  alludes  in  the  following 
extract : 

"  Lord's  day,  June  16th. — The  Lord  has  continued  to 
visit  me  and  my  family  with  mercies.  My  dear  wife 
has  recovered  her  strength  as  rapidly  as  could  have 
been  expected.  Our  babe  is  well  and  quiet.  We 
have  not  as  yet  wanted  any  good  thing." 

It  sometimes  is  the  case,  that  he  w^ho  is  sent  "  to  pro- 
claim the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord,"  is  constrained 
very  shortly  after  to  tell  of  "  the  day  of  vengeance  of 
our  God."  The  churches  of  the  Presbytery  of  New- 
York  had  scarcely  ceased  from  the  joyful  services  of 
the  day  observed  by  them  (May  7th,)  for  the  purpose 
of  praising  God  for  his  spiritual  mercies,  when  they 
■were  called  upon  to  humble  themselves  under  his  afflict- 
ing hand.  In  the  month  of  July  the  city  was  visited 
once  more,  and  for  the  last  time  until  now,  with  the 
desolating  and  all-dreaded  "  yellow  fever." 

How  Mr.  B.  felt  and  acted,  in  a  season  of  so  much 
peculiar  trial,  may  be  seen  from  his  own  statements. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  257 

"  August  28th. — Attended  at  eleven  A.  M.  a  meet- 
ing for  prayer,  in  Spring-street  church,  that  God  would 
avert  from  us  the  chastisements  which,  as  a  city,  we 
have  reason  to  fear.  It  is  now  several  weeks  since  the 
yellow  fever  appeared  in  Rector-street,  hetween  Broad- 
way and  the  North  River.  Its  progress  has  been  very 
slow\  The  extent  of  the  infected  district  was  small,  at 
first ;  it  has  now  embraced  a  part  of  Greenwich,  Broad- 
way and  Wall-streets,  besides  the  two  streets  adjacent 
to  and  parallel  with  Rector-street.  The  number  of 
cases  reported  daily,  is  from  three  to  ten,  and  the  fever 
is  generally  mortal.  It  is  generally  believed  that  many 
cases  of  fever  are  not  reported.  But  of  this  the  evidence 
is  not  altogether  decisive.  The  citizens  are  beginning 
to  be  much  alarmed.  Some  are  removing  to  the  country. 
Others  are  seeking  refuge  in  the  outskirts  and  more 
airy  parts  of  the  city. 

"  I  had  myself  made  some  calculation  on  leaving  the 
city,  for  a  few  weeks,  to  regain  my  strength,  and  re- 
turn with  more  energy  to  my  work  ;  but  this  state  of 
things  seems  to  require  my  presence  with  my  people. 
There  is  a  loud  call  for  instruction.  Many  strangers 
visit  my  church,  and  I  hope  that  all  will  not  go  away 
without  deriving  some  benefit  from  what  they  hear. 
The  Lord  be  w^ith  me,  protect  me,  my  dear  wife  and  my 
little  one,  from  the  destroying  malady,  and  pour  out 
upon  me  and  my  people  of  thy  gracious  Spirit. 

"  I  think  that  I  feel,  somewhat  more  sensibly,  the  need 
of  making  more  vigorous  exertions  for  Christ.  The 
prevalence  of  this  sickness  tells  me  of  the  destruction 
to  which  souls  are  exposed." 

The  third  week  in  October,  he  attended  the  meetinor 
of  the  Synod,  at  Elizabethtown,  and  complains  of  him- 


258  MEMOIR    OF 

self  that  his  mind  became  wandering  and  stupid.  He 
adds,  and  very  properly, — "  Alas  that  such  an  occasion, 
which  ought  to  excite  and  invigorate  my  zeal,  should 
only  involve  me  in  greater  barrenness  of  spirit  and  in- 
difference!" 

His  love  for  revivals  of  religion,  and  eaq^er  desire  both 
to  enjoy  and  promote  them,  must  already  have  been 
noticed.  He  loved  to  labor  in  such  seasons,  not  only 
at  home,  but  when  he  could  be  spared,  among  the  con- 
gregations of  his  brethren.  During  the  autumn  of  this 
year  the  Second  Congregational  church  of  Greenwich, 
Connecticut,  then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev. 
Isaac  Lewis,  was  blessed  with  a  powerful  revival  of  re- 
ligion. In  the  early  part  of  November,  Mr.  Baldwin 
went  to  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Lewis,  and  spent  ten  days 
among  his  people,  during  which  he  preached  sixteen 
times. 

The  character  of  his  preaching  at  such  times  may  be 
learned  somewhat  from  the  passages  of  Scripture  which 
he  selected  for  the  themes  of  his  discourse  :  he  enume- 
rates. Rev.  20 :  3,  Rom.  12 :  1,  2  Cor.  5 :  20,  1  Kings 
18  :  21,  Acts  26 :  28,  Mark  8  :  36,  Mark  12 :  6,  Luke 
15:  10,  Heb.  2:3,  Heb.  4:  II,  Rom.  1 :  16,  Luke 
14  :  18,  Acts  24 :  25,  &c. 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  B.,  he  says,  "  Xov.  13tL—l  am 
much  conversant,  to  say  the  least,  with  the  revival  here. 
And  there  is  much  need  of  some  one  to  assist  brother 
Lewis.  He  is  almost  worn  down  with  continued  anx- 
iety and  labor.  I  expect  to  do  something  more  the 
present  week  than  would  consist  with  my  recruiting 
very  fast.  But  I  shall  have  a  short  time  of  leisure  and 
relaxation  before  my  return.  I  experience  also  the 
benefit  of  this  fine  atmosphere,  in  the  increase  of  my 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  259 

appetite,  spirits,  &c.  I  preached  last  Sabbath  three 
times.  The  audiences  were  large,  attentive  and  solemn. 
But  there  was  not  more  weeping  among  them  than  I 
often  witness  among  my  own  people.  The  difference 
is  that  these  sturdy  country-minds  do  not  wilt  for  no- 
thing ;  nor  do  they  affect  to  be  overwhelmed  when  they 
are  not.     I  have  seen  but  little  weeping  among  them. 

"  I  hope  that  all  is  well  with  my  people.  The  state 
of  things  here  makes  me  sigh  over  the  coldness  and 
stupidity  at  home.  I  hope  that  our  good  people  are 
praying  much  that  I  may  come  back  to  them  in  the 
fulness  of  the  blessings  of  the  gospel  of  peace.  May 
every  blessing  descend  upon  all  that  love  our  little 
Zion." 

About  seventy  persons  had  become  hopeful  subjects 
of  the  work,  when  he  left  to  return  home,  and  a  con- 
siderable number  in  addition  were  under  serious  im- 
pressions. 

Having  completed  the  fifth  year  of  his  missionary- 
labors,  he  makes  the  following  statement,  to  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  the  Society,  of  the  condition  and 
prospects  of  the  people  of  his  charge,  together  with  an 
account  of  his  labors  during  the  year. 

"  The  past  year  has  proved  to  the  Seventh  Presby- 
terian congregation,  a  year  of  encouragement  and 
mercy.  More  than  thirty  persons  have  been  added  to 
the  church,  of  whom  twenty-one  are  from  the  world. 
We  have  had  two  Sunday-schools,  which  continue  to  be 
numerously  attended,  and  conducted  with  great  spirit. 
A  third,  in  the  vicinity  of  Manhattan  Island,  is  support- 
ed, in  part,  by  the  members  of  this  congregation.  Two 
Bible-classes  have  been  in  operation  some  part  of  the 
year, — one  of  them  until  the  prevalence  of  the  fever, 


260  MEMOIR   OF 

and  the  alarm  which  it  occasioned,  dispersed  the  mem- 
bers. Some  attention  has  been  given  to  catechetical 
instruction.  Our  stated  religious  services  are,  three  on 
the  Sabbath,  one  lecture,  and  from  one  to  two  prayer- 
meetings.  Besides  these  stated  services,  we  have  fre- 
quent lectures  and  prayer-meetings,  at  the  request  of 
families  in  the  different  neighborhoods.  I  have  con- 
ducted, upon  an  average,  from  six  to  eight  religious 
services,  each  week,  during  the  year.  There  has  been 
constantly  one  weekly  meeting  for  prayer,  exclusively 
for  females;  most  of  the  time  two,  and  occasionally 
three.  The  Sunday-school  teachers  have  also  an  asso- 
ciation for  prayer,  which  meets  every  month,  and  has 
been  well  supported. 

"  The  congregation  increases  as  fast,  perhaps,  as 
could  be  reasonably  expected  from  our  situation,  and 
the  moral  character  of  the  neighborhood.  Nearly 
seventy  pews,  mostly  in  the  lower  part  of  the  church, 
are  taken ;  and  the  remainder,  below  stairs,  have  been 
generally  occupied  by  strangers.  The  revenue  of  the 
congregation  amounts  to  about  one  thousand  dollars 
per  annum, — reckoning  from  May  last.  That  of  the 
preceding  year,  including  some  extraordinary  efforts, 
amounted  to  about  eight  hundred.  I  should  judge,  that 
we  are  one  fourth  more  numerous  and  able  than  we 
■were  twelve  months  ago.  Were  it  not  for  their  debt, 
which  is,  unhappily,  large  r.iid  oppressive,  the  present 
means  of  the  congregation  would  meet  their  expenses. 
As  it  is,  I  cannot  but  regard  the  sum  raised  for  the 
support  o£  Christian  ordinances,  in  this  once  neglected 
section  of  the  city,  as  a  delightful  proof  of  the  pre- 
valence of  Christian  principles.      Five  years  ago,  it 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  261 

would  have  been  difficult  to  find,  in  all  this  section,  ten 
families  who  attended  any  Presbyterian  church. 

"  During  the  last  autumn  and  winter,  we  were  favored 
with  some  special  manifestations  of  Christ's  presence 
among  us.  The  aspect  of  the  congregation,  for  some 
months,  was  uncommonly  serious.  Lectures  and  prayer- 
meetings  became  thronged,  and  many  individuals 
evinced  peculiar  anxiety  on  the  subject  of  their  salva- 
tion. We  began  to  hope  for  great  things,  and  almost 
believed  that  the  work  was  becoming  general ;  but  in 
this  we  w^ere  disappointed.  The  church  was  but  par- 
tially awakened  to  the  importance  of  the  crisis,  and 
came  not  up  unanimously  and  actively  to  the  help  of 
the  Lord  against  the  mighty.  More  persons  lost  their 
religious  impressions,  than  were  hopefully  brought  by 
them  to  the  reception  of  the  truth.  A  considerable 
number,  however,  became,  in  the  judgment  of  charity, 
genuine  subjects  of  the  work  ;  and  I  can  add  they  have 
since  adorned  their  profession,  by  a  Christian  walk  and 
conversation. 

"  In  this  excitement,  as  in  the  revival  of  the  preceding 
year,  nearly  all  the  subjects  were  heads^of  famihes.  It 
is  to  me  an  interesting  and  encouraging  circumstance, 
that  as  many  as  forty  heads  of  families  have,  within 
two  years,  united  themselves  to  this  church  on  profes- 
sion of  their  faith.  God  is  thus  providing  for  the  re- 
ligious education  of  our  youth.  We  are  not  without 
hopes  that  he  w^ill  soon  visit  them  with  the  gracious 
effusions  of  his  Spirit. 

"  I  have  followed,  the  past  year,  my  former  method 
of  visiting  and  preaching  the  gospel  from  house  to 
house.  The  calls  made  upon  me  to  visit  the  sick  of 
other  denominations,  and  of  no  religious  sect,  have 


262  MEMOIR    OF 

been  numerous.  I  attend  many  funerals,  in  similar 
circumstances.  Indeed,  the  field  before  me  is  great, 
and,  owing  to  the  infancy  of  the  church,  my  helpers 
are  few.  It  is  with  sincere  gratitude  that  I  record  the 
timely  assistance  afforded  me  by  some  laymen  of  the 
Brick  church,  during  the  religious  excitement  which 
has  been  mentioned.  Several  of  them  attended  our 
prayer-meetings  for  some  wrecks,  and  contributed  their 
share  to  encourage  and  promote  the  work.  Their  labor 
of  love  has  left  a  very  pleasant  and  grateful  impression 
on  the  minds  of  the  congregation." 

On  the  21st  of  December,  he  says, — "  I  have  experi- 
enced, for  some  time  past,  a  strong  desire  to  witness 
a  revival  of  religion  among  my  people ;  and,  indeed,  to 
feel  it  in  myself.  Some  few  of  the  members  of  the 
church  seem  to  be  awake.  But  with  most  of  them,  it 
is  a  season  of  great  indifference  and  coldness.  God 
forbid,  that  our  indifference  should  prevent  the  work." 

"  Jan.  2bth,  1823. — Had  a  pleasant  service  last 
evening,  preparatory  to  the  communion.  Three  were 
admitted  as  members  of  the  church,  on  profession  of 
their  faith.  I  think  I  do  desire  to  see  the  work  of  God 
progress  among  us.  There  is  much  encouragement  to 
labor  for  the  salvation  of  souls." 

These  encouraging  appearances  resulted  in  the  con- 
version of  souls. 

March  2lst,  he  remarks, — "  Devoted  this  day  to 
special  prayer.  Our  communion  takes  place  the  next 
Sabbath, — and  there  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  the 
Lord  is  performing  a  good  work  among  us.  The  call 
for  prayer  is,  therefore,  very  loud." 

These  seasons  of  refreshing  were  such,  in  a  special 
manner,  to  his  own  soul.     They  led  him  to  watch  more 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  263 

closely  the  exercises  of  bis  mind,  and  to  guard  it  with 
a  more  tender  conscience  against  every  appearance  of 
evil.   His  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost  usually  then  abounded. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  year  he  labored  under 
more  discouragements.  At  times  it  seemed  to  him  as 
though  he  was  bringing  almost  nothing  to  pass. 

"  A^ov,  13//i. — I  have  seldom  had  the  extent  of  my 
obligations  to  Christ,  as  his  servant,  and  appointed  by 
him  to  minister  to  this  people,  more  seriously  impressed 
upon  my  mind  than  of  late.  The  field  before  me  is 
immense,  and  beyond  measure  rugged  and  forbidding. 
Not  a  third  part  of  the  inhabitants  are  steady  attend- 
ants upon  the  means  of  grace.  Many  are  determined 
opposers  to  all  that  is  Christian.  The  small  proportion 
of  God's  people,  who  are  scattered  among  them,  have 
become  too  indifferent  to  the  scenes  of  wickedness 
which  everywhere  meet  us,  if  not  assimilated  to  the 
wicked  themselves.  I  seem  to  stand  almost  alone  in  a 
dark  place.  Alas,  my  leanness  !  my  unfaithfulness  !  I 
am  doing  next  to  nothing  for  God.  I  fear  that  I  have 
lost  most  of  my  first  zeal  and  activity,  and  that  God 
will  give  me  up  to  barrenness  and  unsuccessful  toil  in 
my  future  endeavors.  O  my  God  !  I  come  to  thee  un- 
der the  pressure  of  disheartening  prospects,  as  well  as 
of  conscious  unworthiness.  Cast  me  not  away  from 
thy  presence,  and  take  not  thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me." 

And  yet  the  year  1823  was  among  the  most  prosper- 
ous hitherto  of  his  ministry.  The  preaching  of  the 
word  had  been  attended  with  divine  power,  and  forty- 
three  persons,  of  whom  eight  only  were  from  other 
churches,  had  been  added  to  the  communion  of  his 
church.  These  accessions,  too,  were  principally  from 
among  the  heads  of  families,  in  the  proportion  of  more 


264  MKMOIR   OF 

than  three  to  one.  The  increase  of  converts  was 
larger  considerably  than  in  any  previous  year.  The 
number  in  communion  was  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
four,  less  by  twenty-seven  only  than  the  whole  number 
that  had  been  in  connection  with  the  church. 

In  a  review  of  the  year,  made  some  months  after- 
wards, he  gives  the  following  sketches  of  the  moral 
character  of  the  community  among  whom  he  labored. 

"  I  still  pursue  my  plan  of  visiting,  and  have,  during 
the  year,  made  numerous  calls  upon  families  of  different 
descriptions,  to  carry  that  gospel  to  their  houses  which 
too  many  neglect  to  hear  in  the  house  of  God.  In  one 
instance,  I  called  upon  every  family,  with  the  exception 
of  three,  in  a  street  containing  about  eighty  families. 
The  result  of  my  inquiries  was  nearly  as  follows  : — 
Fifteen  families  regularly  attendant  upon  Christian 
ordinances ;  twenty-five,  occasional  attendants ;  the 
remainder,  connected  with  no  religious  denomination, 
and  entirely  neglectful  of  the  house  of  God. 

"  Such,  I  have  but  too  much  evidence,  is  a  pretty  fair 
specimen  of  the  inhabitants,  this  side  of  the  hills,  em- 
bracing a  population  of  from  five  to  eight  thousand 
souls.  And  yet,  unpleasant  as  this  picture  is,  it  is  far 
more  cheering  than  could  have  been  presented  five 
years  ago.  The  holy  cause  of  the  Redeemer  has  been 
gradually  gaining  upon  the  interest  of  Satan's  kingdom. 
Some  among  us,  who  cannot  be  persuaded  to  unite 
themselves  with  Christians  of  a  more  evangelical 
character,  are  forced,  by  the  increasing  light,  into  the 
society  of  Unitarians  and  Universalists.  It  is  becoming 
more  necessary  for  every  man  to  take  his  stand  with 
some  denomination. 

"  The  Seventh  Presbyterian  congregation  certainly 


REV.    UR.    BALDWIN.  265 

takes  the  lead  here  in  their  endeavors  to  do  good,  and 
in  their  influence  with  the  population.  But  the  ma- 
jority of  our  members  are  poor ;  and,  from  the  circum- 
stances of  the  case,  must  continue  to  be  so  for  some 
years  to  come. 

"  We  have  recently  lost  several  valuable  members  by 
death,  and  are  about  to  part  with  a  family,  who  leave 
America  for  their  native  land,  that  have  proved  them- 
selves zealous  and  liberal  benefactors  of  the  church.  I 
however  calculate,  that  there  will  be  a  considerable  in- 
crease of  our  numbers,  and  some  advancement  in  the 
state  of  our  funds,  the  coming  year.  Our  prospects 
were  never  more  favorable  than  at  present." 

The  year  1824  was  less  marked  by  the  tokens  of  the 
divine  presence  in  the  congregation  than  the  year  pre- 
vious. The  course  of  Mr.  B.'s  labors  appears  to  have 
been  much  the  same  as  heretofore,  but  with  apparently 
a  diminished  degree  of  spiritual  enjoyment.  Early  in 
April  he  spent  a  few  days  in  Newark,  New-Jersey,  in 
the  congregation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hay,  then  enjoying  a 
revival  of  religion. 

"  I  arrived  here,"  he  writes  to  Mrs.  B.,  April  9th, 
'*  before  night,  on  Wednesday,  and  preached  Wednes- 
day-evening, in  the  Union  School-house,  from  *  There 
is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels,'  &c.  Yesterday 
we  had  a  meeting,  in  the  afternoon,  for  the  youth, 
which  the  young  gentlemen  were  not  expected  to  at- 
tend. It  was  rather  a  private  meeting.  Eighteen 
attended,  and  appeared  very  serious.  In  the  evening 
w^e  attended  a  prayer-meeting,  at  Dr.  Rodgers's.  A 
large  number  attended,  and  appearances  were  favor- 
able. We  have  appointed  a  meeting  for  young  men 
to-day,  at  four  P.  M.,  and  I  am  to  preach  at  the  lower 
12 


266  MEMOIR    OF 

school-house  this  evening.  I  think  I  shall  preach  from 
*The  wicked  is  driven  away  in  his  wickedness.'  I 
brought  no  written  sermons  with  me  ; — of  course,  must 
talk. 

"  I  find  the  people  in  much  the  same  situation  that  I 
had  expected.  There  are  plain  and  promising  indica- 
tions of  the  divine  presence  among  them.  Christians 
are  gradually  waking  up,  and  several  individuals  are 
expressing  a  belief  of  their  recent  conversion  to  God." 

Early  in  the  following  August  he  left  home  with  his 
family,  to  visit  his  aged  parents,  in  Ohio,  whom  he  had 
not  seen  for  more  than  nine  years.  They  went  by  the 
way  of  Albany  and  Buffalo,  and  occupied  two  months 
in  the  visit.  He  acted  at  the  same  time  as  an  Agent 
of  the  Missionary  Society,  endeavoring  to  promote  its 
interests  in  every  possible  way.  His  reports  show  how 
completely  he  had  identified  himself  with  the  cause 
to  which  he  had  thus  far  devoted  his  life. 

The  year  passed  away,  after  his  return,  without  any 
occurrence  in  his  own  history,  or  that  of  his  people, 
worthy  of  particular  notice. 

His  labors  during  the  ensuing  winter  w^ere  not  in 
vain.  Though  no  general  awakening  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  the  result,  yet  thirteen  converts  were  added  to 
the  church.  A  season  of  remarkable  coldness  and  de- 
clension followed,  which  continued  for  more  than 
eighteen  months,  during  which  time  not  a  soul  was 
added  to  the  church  on  profession  of  faith.  His  diary 
shows  a  corresponding  depression  of  spirits. 

Jn  the  spring  of  1825,  he  engaged  in  another  agency 
for  the  Society,  of  which  he  gives  the  following  account 
in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  B. : 

"  Fairfeld,  March  30th,  1825.— I  preached  in  three 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  267 

societies  the  last  Sabbath,  and  took  up  a  collection  in 
but  one.  I  expect  to  remain  here  till  to-morrow,  and 
then  take  my  passage  for  Wilton,  and  reach  Danbury 
on  Saturday.  I  shall  then  have  to  visit  Stamford,  touch 
at  Darien  and  Greenwich,  and  return  home  the  follow- 
ing week.  I  must  therefore  depend  upon  brother  Net- 
tleton  to  supply  my  pulpit  one  more  Sabbath.  I  hope 
to  hear  that  he  is  not  spending  his  strength  in  vain.  As 
to  his  measures,  I  have  no  fears.  My  impression  is  as 
strong  as  ever,  that  almost  any  state  of  things  is  prefer- 
able to  the  steady  leaden  calm,  which  has  for  some 
months  past  pervaded  the  congregation.  I  am  not 
certain  that  Christians  and  sinners  can,  in  such  circum- 
stances, be  roused  to  feeling  and  effort,  without  such  a 
treatment  as  some  would  think  imprudent,  and  which 
will  in  some  cases  give  offence.  I  was  not  at  all  star- 
tled at  the  manner  in  which  the  first  meeting  was  con- 
ducted I — but  it  does  not  follow  that  I  could  have  taken 
the  same  course  with  equal  propriety  or  success.  Every 
thing  depends  upon  the  man  and  the  manner.  I  do 
pray  that  my  people  may  know  the  day  of  their  visita- 
tion ;  and  that  God  will  not  withhold  the  blessing  from 
the  labors  of  his  highly- favored  servant." 

Not  even  the  labors  of  Mr.  Nettleton,  so  signally 
blessed  as  they  almost  uniformly  were,  seem  to  have 
made  any  lasting  or  saving  impression  upon  the  congre- 
gation.    "  The  leaden  calm"  continued. 

In  May  he  represented  the  Presbytery  at  the  meeting 
of  the  General  Assembly  in  Philadelphia. 

Having  heard  the  glad  intelligence  of  the  conversion 
of  his  brother  Jonathan,  in  Atwater,  Ohio,  he  wrote  to 
him,  August  2df  in  the  following  animated  and  en- 
couraging manner : 


268  MEMOIR    OF 

"  It  has  given  me  more  satisfaction  than  I  can  ex- 
press to  hear  that  you  have  at  last  given  a  serious  and, 
it  is  to  be  hoped,  a  saving  attention  to  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  subjects.  My  heart's  desire  and  my  prayer 
to  God  for  my  brothers  and  sisters  have  been,  that  they 
might  be  saved.  I  trust  they  are  now  all  in  the  good 
way.  How  much  gratitude  and  thanksgiving  are  due 
to  the  Father  of  all  mercies  for  such  an  unspeakable 
blessing !  Can  it  be,  1  ask  myself,  that  we  all,  parents 
and  children,  have  become  children  of  the  Most  High 
God,  and  heirs  of  eternal  life  1  It  will  be  a  wonder  of 
mercy,  if  we  and  the  members  added  to  the  family  by 
marriage  should  all  be  gathered  at  last  into  heaven. 
Yet  God  is  able  to  bestow  even  this.  I  hope  it  will  be 
found  that  he  has  given  us  all  a  title,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  to  such  an  inheritance. 

"Let  us  then  labor  to  enter  into  that  rest.  We 
should  examine  our  hearts  and  lives  frequently.  We 
should  be  attentive  to  the  word  of  life.  We  should 
pray  much.  We  should  keep  our  hearts  with  all  dili- 
gence, and  beware  of  grieving  the  Holy  Spirit.  He 
wull  be  grieved  by  our  neglect  of  secret  duties, — by  the 
excessive  indulgence  of  worldly  conversation  and 
worldly  expectations, — by  sloth  or  the  waste  of  pre- 
cious time, — by  neglect  of  the  Scriptures,  &c.  A  per- 
son, to  live  near  to  God  and  be  a  useful  and  happy 
Christian,  must  be,  1,  Well  acquainted  with  himself: 
2,  Well  acquainted  with  the  Scriptures  :  3,  Watchful 
against  temptation  :  4,  '  Not  slothful  in  business,  fervent 
in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord.'  May  you,  my  dear  brother  ! 
have  much  comfort,  and  prove  an  instructive  example  to 
others,  in  the  good  cause  which  you  have  openly  and 
formally  espoused." 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  269 

The  period  to  which  this  history  has  now  arrived  was 
one  of  the  most  trying  in  his  whole  ministry.  It  had 
become  fully  apparent  that  the  house  of  worship  which 
the  congregation,  with  so  much  self-denial  and  toil  on 
his  part,  had  erected  and  finished,  was  inadequate  to  the 
wants  of  the  people.  The  revenue  derived  from  the 
letting  and  sale  of  pews  was  scarcely  more  than  would 
suffice  to  pay  the  interest  of  their  burdensome  debt,  and 
meet  the  ordinary  contingent  expenses  of  public  wor- 
ship. Scarcely  any  thing  was  afforded  towards  the 
payment  of  the  pastor's  salary.  Previous  to  1821,  the 
congregation  had  contributed  almost  nothing  to  this 
object.  In  1822,  the  plan  was  commenced,  and  con- 
tinued for  several  years,  of  appropriating  the  proceeds 
of  the  collections,  made  in  the  church  on  the  last  Sab- 
bath of  every  month,  towards  the  salary  of  ihe  pastor. 
These  collections  averaged  only  about  one  hundred  and 
seventy  dollars.  To  these  were  added  the  yearly  ap- 
propriation of  four  hundred  dollars,  from  the  Mission- 
ary Society,  the  fees  for  marriages,  and  gratuities  from 
individuals. 

The  family  of  Mr.  B.  were,  in  consequence  of  these 
inadequate  means,  frequently  reduced  to  great  straits. 
But  for  the  personal  favor  of  individuals,  who  felt  a 
deep  sympathy  with  the  missionary  in  his  work,  they 
must  often  have  suffered  greatly.  It  is  a  matter  of  sur- 
prise that  Mr.  B.  was  willing  to  continue,  and  without 
complaint,  so  long  in  such  a  forbidding  field.  It  is  true 
that  his  labors  w^ere  blessed,  that  many  souls  had  been 
converted,  that  a  church  and  congregation  had  been 
gathered,  and  Sabbath-schools  instituted,  so  that  the 
aspect  of  the  community  was  greatly  changed  for  the 
better,  but  it  was  to  the  poor  that  the  gospel  had  been 


270  MEMOIR    OF 

preached.  There  were  almost  none  among  thera  that 
were  not  dependent  on  their  daily  labor  for  subsistence. 

There  seemed  but  little  prospect  that  a  change  for 
the  better  would  or  could  soon  take  place.  It  was 
often  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  they  could  meet 
their  serai-annual  payments  of  interest  money,  and  fre- 
quently they  were  pressed,  prosecuted  even  at  law,  for 
the  payment  of  some  of  their  smaller  dues. 

In  these  circumstances,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Mr. 
B.  should  have  seriously  entertained  the  idea  of  re- 
moving to  some  other  sphere,  where  his  labors  might 
be  followed  by  more  satisfactory  results.  "  My  labors 
among  this  people,  for  some  time  past,"  he  says,  in 
March,  1826,  "  had  been  of  a  discouraging  character. 
The  gospel,  though  heard  with  interest,  appeared  to 
have  but  little  effect.  The  circumstances  of  the  con- 
gregation in  pecuniary  matters  were  embarrassed,  and 
the  support  which  they  have  afforded  me  has  ever  been 
very  inadequate  to  my  wants.  But  the  most  trying 
circumstance  was,  the  probability  of  being  obliged  to 
preach  in  our  present  house,  till  the  erection  of  more 
commodious  and  beautiful  edifices  by  other  denomina- 
tions should  swallow  us  up.  The  house  is  full, — and 
many  applications  for  pews,  the  past  year,  have  been 
turned  by.  Yet  the  people  appeared  unwilling  to  make 
an  effort  to  erect  another.  In  this  state  of  things  my 
discouragement  became  extreme.  Providence  appeared 
to  point  me  to  another  and  more  promising  field  of 
labor." 

Other  churches  were  now  coming  forward  to  culti- 
vate the  field.  The  Methodist  church,  worshiping  in 
the  Mission-House,  had  been  greatly  prospered,  and 
blessed  with  revivals.     On  the  16th  of  October,  1825, 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  271 

they  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  new  church  in  Willet- 
street,  near  Broome-street,  to  be  built  of  stone,  and  of 
nearly  double  the  dimensions  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  church. 
The  building,  at  the  date  of  the  above  extract,  was  al- 
most completed,  and  the  probability  was  great,  that 
when  opened  it  would  attract  many  by  its  superior  ac- 
commodations. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island, 
being  destitute  of  a  pastor,  had  made  some  informal 
proposals  to  Mr.  Baldwin.  This  drew  from  him  the 
following  record : 

"  Feb.,  1826. — I  have  devoted  this  day,  in  part,  to 
special  prayer,  in  concert  with  the  church  of  Jamaica, 
who  have  manifested  a  desire  to  obtain  me  for  their 
pastor.  The  election  is  to  take  place  to-morrow.  It 
is  uncertain  what  the  event  will  be.  I  have  no  desire 
to  anticipate  it.  I  think  that  I  can  commit  the  whole 
to  God,  and  say,  'Not  my  will  but  thine  be  done.' 
Whether  I  may  go,  or  continue  in  my  present  situation, 
it  is  my  desire  that  I  may  prove  a  more  zealous,  faith- 
ful, and  efficient  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus." 

The  choice  fell  upon  him,  and  led  him  to  remark, 
March  11th: — ^' Mirabilia!  The  past  fortnight  has 
proved  one  of  the  most  eventful  periods  of  my  life.  A 
week  ago  last  Tuesday,  I  received  a  call  to  become  the 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Jamaica.  The  call  w^as,  con- 
sidering the  previous  state  of  the  congregation,  remark- 
ably unanimous.  None  appeared  to  oppose  my  coming, 
nor  is  it  known  that  any  would  oppose.  The  call 
reached  me  on  Wednesday;  and  was  under  considera- 
tion till  the  last  Sabbath.  I  endeavored  to  pray  over 
it,  and  had  nearly  concluded  to  return  a  favorable 
answer. 


272  MEMOIR    OF 

"  With  this  impression  I  went  to  the  house  of  Got?, 
on  the  Sabbath,  March  5th,  and  to  my  surprise  found 
a  notice  in  my  pulpit  for  a  pubhc  meeting  of  the  con- 
gregation, on  Tuesday-evening,  to  advise  the  trustees 
on  the  subject  of  disposing  of  our  present  church  for 
the  purpose  of  erecting  one  more  commodious.  They 
had  received,  it  seems,  a  proposition  from  the  Baptists 
to  purchase.  I  read  the  communication,  and  pressed 
the  importance  of  a  good  attendance.  The  congrega- 
tion met,  and  resolved  unanimously  to  make  an  effort, 
by  way  of  trial,  to  ascertain  what  could  be  done  to  raise 
the  means  of  building,  and  to  locate  in  a  more  eligible 
place.  The  location  is  already  fixed  upon.  Subscrip- 
tions to  the  amount  of  §3,500  obtained,  and  all  within 
five  days  of  the  first  effort.  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my 
soul  1" 

In  his  Annual  Report  to  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  Missionary  Society,  dated  April  2bth^  1826,  he 
presents  the  matter  more  in  detail : — "  It  has  been  found 
during  the  past  year,  that  the  building,  which  we  now 
occupy,  is  considerably  too  small  to  accommodate  all 
who  would  choose  to  locate  with  us.  Numerous  ap- 
plications for  seats  below  stairs  have  met  with  disap- 
pointment, for  want  of  room.  This  circumstance, 
together  with  the  bad  location  of  the  church,  and  the 
heavy  debt  which  embarrasses  the  institution,  have  led 
the  congregation  to  adopt  the  measure  of  disposing  of 
their  church,  and  erecting  another  of  larger  dimensions, 
upon  a  more  eligible  site.  The  enterprise  seems  to  be 
fully  warranted  by  the  growth  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
that  of  the  congregation  in  particular.  It  is  meeting 
with  a  generous  patronage  among  ourselves. 

"  The   importance   of  this   effort   to    the   religious 


REV.  DR.    BALDWIN.  273 

character  of  this  section  of  the  city,  cannot  easily  be 
over-rated.  Our  situation  has  been  for  six  years  that  of 
an  institution  sustained  and  rising  under  the  constant 
pressure  of  pecuniary  embarrassment.  Of  late,  our 
borders  have  been  too  limited.  Our  location  was  always 
unfriendly  to  the  rapid  growth  of  the  congregation. 
Should  the  enterprise  in  which  the  congregation  has 
embarked  succeed, — and,  with  some  assistance  from  our 
friends  in  other  churches,  it  promises  to  succeed, — there 
is  good  reason  to  anticipate  a  happy  deliverance  from 
these  impediments  to  our  future  growth. 

"  We  expect  to  worship  during  the  summer  in  the 
Mission-Church,  but  have  received,  as  yet,  nothing  offi- 
cially decisive  from  the  congregation  that  hired  it. 
Our  hope  and  expectation,  in  these  circumstances,  must 
be  from  him  who  has  thus  far  been  our  protection. 
Pray  for  us — that  God  will  not  suffer  us  to  be  scattered 
as  a  people,  nor  to  become  fatally  involved  and  secu- 
larized in  the  prosecution  of  our  present  design." 


W 


274^  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Commences  the  vork  of  building  a  new  house  of  worship. — 
Labors  in  a  Revival  at  Hartford,  Con. — Visit  to  Boston. — 
New  church  completed. — Labors  in  Dr.  Skinner's  church, 
Philadelphia. — Views  of  Slavery  and  Intemperance.— The 
Great  Revival  in  1S31. — Church  burnt  down, 

A  BRIGHTER  day  now  began  to  dawn,  and  the  enter- 
prise, in  which  Mr.  Baldwin  had  been  so  long  engaged, 
to  assume  a  more  encouraging  aspect.  The  building, 
in  which  the  congregation  had  worshiped  for  nearly 
six  years,  was  neither  as  large  nor  as  substantial  as 
was  needed.  It  was  a  frame-building,  with  a  stone- 
basement  and  brick-front,  about  thirty-seven  feet  wide 
and  sixty  feet  long,  surmounted  by  a  small  belfry  or 
cupola.  The  house  and  ground  were  sold  for  $7,300. 
The  amount  of  expense  which  had  hitherto  from  the  be- 
ginning been  incurred  for  the  property,  including  the 
interest  on  loans,  somewhat  exceeded  §20,000  ;  while 
the  contingent  expenses,  including  salaries,  amounted 
to  less  than  §2200.  After  appropriating  the  avails  of 
the  sale  to  the  payment  of  loans,  the  congregation  found 
themselves,  at  least  §3000  in  debt. 

Such  were  the  circumstances  in  which  Mr.  Baldwin 
declined  the  call  to  the  church  at  Jamaica,  and  reso- 
lutely, with  q  glad  as  well  as  contented  heart,  set  him- 
self to  the  work  of  erecting  a  new  house  of  worship  for 
the  beloved  people  of  his  charge.  Within  less  than 
three  weeks,    a   subscription    was    obtained,    mainly 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  275 

through  his  exertions,  from  forty-eight  persons,  of 
$6,200.  Five  lots  of  ground  were  procured  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $5,200,  on  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Broome  and 
Ridge-streets.  The  old  church,  in  Sheriff-street,  was 
rehnquished  on  the  first  of  May,  and  the  work  of  build- 
ing the  new  church  immediately  commenced.  The 
congregation  met,  during  the  remainder  of  the  year,  on 
the  Sabbath,  part  of  the  day  in  the  old  Mission-House, 
then  occupied  by  a  small  Baptist  church,  and  the  other 
part  of  the  day  in  the  Allen-street  Presbyterian  church. 
The  greater  part  of  the  year  was  occupied  by  Mr. 
Baldwin  in  the  cares  and  labors  consequent  upon  the 
work  of  providing  means  for  the  prosecution  of  the  new 
enterprise.  The  corner-stone  of  the  church  was  laid 
July  18th,  1826,  after  which  the  work  progressed 
rapidly. 

Early  in  September,  at  the  request  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hawes,  he  visited  Hartford,  and  spent  nearly  three 
weeks  in  the  promotion  of  a  work  of  grace  which  had 
recently  commenced.  Of  this  visit  he  thus  writes  to 
Mrs.  B.,  on  the  9//t  of  September : 

"We  reached  Hartford  about  noon,  when  I  found 
brother  Hawes  at  his  post,  ready  to  receive  and  wel- 
come me.  'I  am  glad  to  see  you,'  said  the  honest- 
hearted  man,  '  and  I  am  going  to  turn  my  meeting- 
house, steeple  and  all,  over  upon  your  shoulders.'  A 
pretty  huge  load,  you  will  suppose,  when  I  inform  you 
that  his  church  is  not  less  than  the  first  church  in  New- 
ark, and  the  steeple  is  much  higher !  However,  the 
edifice  remains  as  yet  the  right  side  up.  But  there  is 
considerable  agitation  among  the  people.  Brother 
Hawes  I  found  pretty  thoroughly  worn  down  with  la- 
bor and  anxiety  of  mind.     He  needed  help  to  enable 


276  MEMOIR    OF 

him  to  remain  on  the  ground,  and  I  am  pleased  to  ob- 
serve that  he  appears  already  to  be  regaining  his 
strength. 

"  I  have  attended  several  meetings,  besides  the  two 
weekly  lectures  at  the  South  and  North  churches.  The 
work  has  not  yet  become  general.  About  one  hundred 
and  fifty  attended  the  meeting  of  inquiry,  last  evening, 
but  some  afforded  very  little  evidence  of  conviction,  and 
others  were  hopeful  converts.  The  number  of  the  lat- 
ter class  may  be  about  forty.  They  are  principally 
young  persons.  I  think,  however,  that  the  revival  is  on 
the  increase.  New  instances  of  seriousness  and  hope- 
ful conversion  to  God  are  daily  coming  to  our  know- 
ledge. One  occurred  the  day  after  my  arrival,  which 
afforded  me  some  encouragement  as  well  as  satisfaction. 
I  attended  and  conducted  a  small  meeting  of  young 
people,  some  of  whom  appeared  to  be  seriously  im- 
pressed with  the  importance  of  obtaining  the  salvation 
of  the  gospel.  The  next  morning,  one  of  them,  a  young 
man  from  Boston,  called  at  Mr.  Hawes's  to  converse  with 
me.  He  had,  in  pursuance  of  my  advice  at  the  meet- 
ing, retired  to  his  closet  to  give  up  his  heart  to  Jesus 
Christ,  when  he  was  surprised  and  almost  alarmed  to 
find  that  ^  it  went  of  itself.'  His  difficulty  in  the  morn- 
ing was,  that  he  could  not  think  of  obtaining  salvation 
in  so  easy  a  way.  He  was  delighted  with  being  the 
Lord's,  and  with  serving  and  enjoying  him  forever; 
but  he  imagined  that  there  was  something  more  to  be 
done  first !" 

Again  ori  the  15th : — "  Since  writing  to  you,  I  have 
continued  to  be  favored  with  health  and  strength,  and 
enough  to  do.  Yesterday  I  went  with  Mr.  Hawes  to 
Middletown,  where  the  American  Board  of  Foreign 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  277 

Missions  is  sitting.  Dr.  Griffin  preached  before  the 
Board  of  Missions  last  night,  and  I  am  this  morning 
informed,  that  he  gave  a  towering  discourse ;  a  little 
too  much  so,  I  should  suspect,  for  the  solid  thinkers  of 
Connecticut. 

"  I  spend  my  time  here  almost  exclusively  in  one 
thing — and  that  is,  in  conversing  with  individuals  and 
attending  meetings.  There  is  a  very  manifest  increase 
of  attention  to  the  means  of  salvation.  All  the  public 
meetings  are  full,  and  some  to  overflowing.  I  should 
think  that  the  number  of  hopeful  converts  is  consider- 
ably above  fifty.  And  yet  the  church  has  scarcely 
waked  up.  Here  has  been  with  brother  Hawes  the 
great  source  of  discouragement.  Unless  the  church 
come  up  to  their  work,  we  have  no  expectation  that 
the  revival  will  become  general  in  the  congregation. 

"  My  assistance  here  has  been  timely  and  providen- 
tial. Of  the  three  congregations  in  Hartford,  one  is 
vacant,  and  neither  brother  Hawes  nor  brother  Lindsley, 
who  are  settled  over  the  other  two,  have  strength  to  do 
much.  In  the  mean  time,  requests  are  coming  in  from 
every  quarter  for  neighborhood  meetings.  These  are 
held  in  the  afternoon,  at  different  private  dwellings,  and 
collect  from  twenty-five  to  sixty  persons." 

After  his  return  he  speaks,  in  a  letter  to  his  parents 
dated  Oct.  19th,  of  the  state  of  affairs  at  home,  in  the 
following  manner : — "  I  presume  that  by  this  time  you 
are  desirous  of  hearing  from  your  children  in  this  city. 
We  are  still  able  to  speak  of  divine  kindness  and  mercy 
exercised  on  our  behalf.  We  are  permitted  still  to  live, 
and  are  favored  with  a  comfortable  measure  of  health 
and  prosperity.  Our  domestic  circle  not  only  remains 
undiminished  by  death,  but  we  h  fjve  recently  had  an 


278  MEMOIR    OF 

addition  made  to  it.  On  Tuesday,  the  22d  of  August, 
the  Lord  gave  us  another  son.  He  is  a  perfect  and 
promising  child.  Julia  has  nearly  recovered  her 
strength,  and  is,  for  her,  unusually  well.  Our  little 
girl  enjoys  good  health. 

"  My  labors  and  cares,  the  past  season,  have  been 
somewhat  oppressive.  The  congregation  are  engaged 
in  the  erection  of  a  new  edifice  for  worship,  and  have 
found  it  necessary  to  depend  very  much  for  success  on 
my  individual  exertions.  You  will  be  gratified  to  hear 
that  Providence  is  succeeding  the  enterprise  even  beyond 
our  expectations.  It  will  be  a  large,  neat,  and  con- 
venient brick  church.  The  roof  is  already  on,  and  we 
expect,  in  a  few  weeks,  to  commence  meeting  in  the 
basement-story. 

"  I  have  recently  made  a  visit  to  Hartford,  where  I 
passed  about  three  weeks,  and  was  treated  with  much 
kindness.  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more  Christian  and 
well-informed  people.  There  is  at  present  a  consider- 
able revival  in  Hartford,  as  also  in  East  Hartford,  and 
in  Wethersfield.  I  have  no  very  good  news  to  send 
you  from  this  city.  The  churches  enjoy  a  tranquil  state. 
Most  of  them  are  gradually  increasing  in  numbers.  In 
the  mean  time,  iniquity  abounds.  New-York  is  be- 
coming an  immense  city,  and,  unless  much  is  done  to 
purify  it,  will  pollute  the  whole  land  with  its  vices." 

About  the  first  of  December,  the  basement-story  of 
the  new  church  was  finished,  and  opened  for  public 
worship.  A  corresponding  increase  was  soon  observ- 
able in  the  state  of  the  church  and  congregation. 

He  left  home  on  the  18th  of  January,  1827,  in  com- 
pany with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peters,  on  a  visit  to  Boston,  in 
behalf  of  the  newly-formed  American  Home  Mission- 


REV.    DR.    BALmvlX.  279 

ary  Society.  He  was  absent  about  two  weeks.  To 
Mrs.  B.  he  writes,  on  the  23d, — "  We  are  getting  on 
very  well  in  the  object  of  our  mission.  The  good 
people  have  decided  to  form  a  Society,  auxiliary  in  its 
results  though  not  in  name  to  the  American  Home 
Missionary  Society.  The  organization  will  take  place 
on  Thursday-evening  next.  I  must  be  present,  for 
speeches  are  wanted  here  as  well  as  in  New-York. 

"  I  preached  last  Sabbath,  in  the  morning,  for  brother 
Edward  Beecher,  in  the  Park-street  church,  and,  in  the 
afternoon,  for  brother  Fay  of  Charlestown.  I  shall,  by 
divine  permission,  lecture  for  brother  Wisner.  There  is 
an  interesting  and  very  promising  state  of  things  in  all 
the  orthodox  churches  of  our  denomination ;  not  less,  I 
should  say,  than  three  hundred  inquirers  in  all.  Last 
evening  I  attended  the  inquiring  meeting  of  Mr.  Beecher 
of  Park-street  church.  There  were  about  fifty  present. 
Numbers  have  obtained  hope.  Seventy-five  or  six  per- 
sons were  admitted  into  Dr.  Beecher's  church  Sabbath 
before  last." 

Again  he  says,  on  the  25th, — "  Mr.  Peters  and  my- 
self had  expected  to  find  our  object  in  visiting  Boston 
so  far  anticipated  by  the  good  people  here,  as  would 
render  it  unnecessary  for  me  to  operate  with  him  more 
than  a  few  days.  The  result  is  otherwise.  We  have 
had  to  begin  with  first  principles.  Every  thing  appears, 
however,  to  progress  well.  A  public  meeting  is  called 
for  this  evening,  when  it  is  expected  that  a  strong  and 
most  important  Society  will  be  formed  for  Domestic 
Missions.  The  most  wealthy  Christians  appear  to  be 
coming  up  to  the  object  with  a  truly  noble  spirit. 

In  the  mean  time,  I  improve  such  opportunities  as  I 
have  of  attending  religious  meetings.     On  Tuesday- 


280  MEMOIR   OF 

evening  I  lectured  for  brother  Wisner,  in  his  lecture- 
room,  or — as  they  term  such  places  here — in  his  'vestry.' 
The  number  present,  notwithstanding  the  unpleasant 
state  of  the  weather,  was  large,  and  the  appearance  of 
the  audience  very  serious.  It  is  estimated  that  the  whole 
number  of  inquirers  in  the  city  is  not  less  than  five 
hundred.  But  little,  however,  is  said  about  the  revival, 
lest  unnecessary  prejudice  and  opposition  should  be 
excited." 

The  new  church  was  finished  about  the  first  of  May, 
1827.  It  \vas  a  substantial  brick  structure,  with  a 
cupola,  and  its  dimensions,  eighty  feet  by  sixty-three 
feet,  more  ihan  twice  as  large  as  the  old  church.  It 
was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  Redeemer,  on  Sab- 
bath, the  6th  of  May,  when  sermons  were  preached  by 
the  Rev.  Drs.  McAuley  and  Spring,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Patton.  The  erection  of  this  edifice  involved  the  con- 
gregation in  a  debt  of  more  than  $15,000.  Mr.  Bald- 
win had  ceased  his  connection  with  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety, on  the  14th  of  October,  1826,  and  was  now 
supported  wholly  by  the  people  of  his  charge.  It  was 
not,  however,  until  after  the  first  of  May,  1827,  that  he 
began  to  receive  the  regular  payment  of  his  salary. 

In  August,  he  received  an  invitation  to  visit  Philadel- 
phia, and  labor  for  a  short  time  in  the  congregation 
under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Skinner,  which  was  then 
enjoying  a  season  of  spiritual  refreshing.  Leaving  his 
family  in  Orange,  New-Jersey,  he  hasted  to  engage  in 
a  work  than  which  none  could  be  more  gratifying  to 
his  ardent  soul.  From  Philadelphia  he  wrote,  Mug. 
20th,  to  his  beloved  companion,  as  follows : 

"  I  lectured  on  Friday-evening.  The  number  present 
was  very  respectable.    I  also  preached  yesterday,  in  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  281 

afternoon,  to  a  pretty  thin  house,  and  in  the  evening  to 
a  full  one.  A  large  number  of  meetings  are  appointed 
for  this  week.  There  is  work  enough  to  do.  But  what 
exactly  will  be  *  ray  entering  in '  among  this  people  I 
am  as  yet  unable  to  say.  The  first  fervor  of  the  revival 
is  past,  but  there  remains  an  uncommon  spirit  of  prayer. 
There  is  a  meeting  for  prayer,  every  morning  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  session-room,  which  is  well  attended. 
The  number  of  praying  brethren  is  respectable.  Their 
meetings  are  conducted  with  great  decorum.  I  cannot 
perceive  any  tendency  in  the  members  to  enthusiasm  or 
excessive  zeal.  About  forty  are  numbered  as  subjects 
of  the  revival.  Others  are  seriously  inquiring.  We 
have  a  meeting  this  evening  for  such  as  are  anxious. 

"  My  dear  wife  will  not  forget,  that  I  am  placed  here 
in  a  responsible  and  trying  situation.  Never  have  I  felt 
the  need  of  greater  wisdom,  zeal,  and  faithfulness. 
AVhether  my  visit  here  will  be  useful  or  not  is,  I  con- 
fess, not  so  clear  to  me.  Providence  alone  can  decide 
it.  I  need  more  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  enter  as  I  ought 
into  the  circumstances  of  this  people,  and  leave  a  de- 
cided impression  among  them  in  favor  of  the  good  work. 
My  preaching  has  not  as  yet  come  up  to  the  spirit  of 
the  time.     You  will  try  to  help  me." 

In  a  letter  dated  the  28th  is  furnished  a  just  specimen 
ofthat  equanimity  of  mind  and  calm  resignation  to  the 
will  of  God,  which  so  commonly  characterized  him  : 

"  Your  letter,  which  reached  me  on  Saturday,  pro- 
duced not  a  little  anxiety  for  the  result  of  Joseph's  ill- 
ness. His  case,  however,  does  not  appear  to  me 
materially  different  from  Julia's,  at  the  time  we  were  at 
Utica.  I  wish  you  to  write  immediately  on  receiving 
this  letter,  and  state  the  worst  as  well  as  the  best.    My 


282  MKMOIR    OF 

mind  is,  in  a  measure,  prepared  for  any  result.  I  would 
not  wish  to  retain  our  little  boy,  unless  he  is  destined  to 
be  useful  in  the  world.  It  is  not  my  request,  that  God 
would  spare  him  at  any  rate,  but  that  he  may  live  to 
serve  God  and  do  good.  Let  us  submit  the  whole  to 
him,  and  rejoice  that  he  is  on  the  throne. 

"  Since  writing  to  you,  the  state  of  the  revival  has 
assumed  a  more  promising  appearance.  Christians  are 
more  encouraged,  and  more  prayerful.  The  services 
on  the  Sabbath  were  extremely  well  attended,  notwith- 
standing the  unfavorable  state  of  the  weather.  I  have 
several  meetings  appointed  for  this  week.  My  calcu- 
lation is  to  spend  one  more  Sabbath  in  Philadelphia, 
and  then  bend  my  way  towards  home,  by  Thursday  at 
least,  and  sooner  than  that,  should  the  state  of  Joseph's 
health  remain  as  it  was. 

"  I  have  been  interrupted  by  two  morning-calls ;  one 
of  a  young  lady,  in  the  most  trying  state  of  mind.  She 
believes  verily  there  is  no  hope  for  her  ;  for  she  has 
no  conviction  of  sin,  no  realizing  sense  of  God  or 
Christ,  or  any  thing  !  She  scarcely  knows  that  she  has 
a  soul  !  I  have  told  her  to  go  home  and  read  what  the 
Bible  says  about  Jesus  Christ,  and  let  her  heart  alone 
for  the  present. 

"  You  must  not  imagine,  my  dear,  that  I  almost  for- 
get you  and  your  precious  charge  ;  nor  that  I  would 
not  willingly  hasten  back  to  you.  But  as  God  appears 
to  have  given  me  employment  here,  and  some  success 
in  encouraging  the  hearts  of  his  people,  I  feel  that  it  is 
safe  to  obey  him.  I  have  more  hopes  of  the  dear  babe, 
while  I  am  content  to  be  about  my  duty." 

A  specimen  of  the  manner  in  which  he  was  accus- 
tomed, at  this  period  of  his  life,  to  preach  the  word,  ap- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  283 

pears  in  a  sermon  on  the  Judgment,  published,  Dec. 
1827,  in  the  National  Preacher.  It  was  Scriptural, 
plain,  and  direct.  He  spake  to,  and  not  merely  of,  his 
hearers.  The  closing  paragraphs  show  how  he  was 
accustomed  to  plead  with  them. 

A  few  weeks  afterwards  appeared,  from  the  press, 
a  sermon  which  he  preached  Dec.  11,  1827,  the  day 
set  apart  as  the  annual  Thanksgiving-day.  It  is  a  more 
finished  specimen  of  his  style  than  the  other,  and  con- 
tains many  beautiful  passages.  His  text  is — "  Eejoice 
with  trembling."  After  a  brief  and  glowing  enumera- 
tion of  the  peculiar  causes  for  grateful  joy,  on  the  part 
of  American  citizens,  he  proceeds  to  specify  some  of 
the  causes  which  should  lead  them  to  tremble  as  well 
as  rejoice.  He  mentions  slavery,  intemperance,  the  mis- 
employment  of  the  press,  the  rapid  increase  of  the 
facilities  of  vice,  and  the  wide  moral  desolations  of  the 
fast-rising  West. 

On  the  all-exciting  topic  of  iS/auer?/  he  thus  remarks  : 
— "  All  admit  that  its  existence  is  a  serious  evil.  But 
comparatively  few  appear  to  have  calculated  its  rapid 
augmentation  and  baleful  effects.  Let  it  then  be  con- 
sidered, by  every  citizen,  that  the  natural  increase  of 
our  slave-population  is  such,  that  without  timely  mea- 
sures are  adopted  to  colonize  them  abroad,  or  eman- 
cipate them  here,  they  will  amount  in  the  days  of  our 
children's  children,  to  more  than  twenty  millions.  Can 
such  an  accumulation  of  physical  power  be  kept  down  ? 
Suppose  it  can  ;  what  must  be  the  moral  aspect  of  a 
Christian  republic,  enlightened  and  boastful  of  her 
rights,  which  exacts  and  appropriates  the  earnings  of 
twenty  millions  of  slaves  1 — Proclaiming  formally  to  the 
w^orld  '  that  all  men  are  born  alike  free,'   while  she 


284  MEMOIR    OF 

deliberately  consigns  one  fifth  of  her  population  to  neat- 
ly the  worst  state  of  hopeless  bondage  ?  And  that, 
too,  on  the  principle  that  they  were  horn  slaves  P^ 

The  cause  of  Temperance,  which,  in  1827,  made 
such  rapid  progress  under  the  auspices  of  the  American 
Temperance  Society,  formed  in  1826,  he  ardently  es- 
poused, and  warmly  advocated.  It  accorded  perfectly 
with  all  his  previous  habits.  So  abstemious  was  he 
that  he  could  scarcely  be  persuaded  to  use  intoxicat- 
ing liquors  even  as  a  medicine. 

A  period  of  three  years,  1828 — 30,  was  passed 
mostly  in  the  ordinary,  diligent  and  laborious  discharge 
of  his  duties  to  his  people,  of  which  but  few  notices 
have  been  preserved.  In  September,  1828,  he  visited 
Newburyport,  Mass.,  as  a  representative  of  the  Ameri- 
can Home  Missionary  Society,  and  delivered  an  elo- 
quent charge  to  five  young  men,  who  were  there  or- 
dained as  Missionaries  to  the  West  and  South.  In 
this  charge,  (extracts  from  which  are  preserved  in  "the 
Home  Missionary,"  I.  Ill — 113,)  maybe  seen  a  trans- 
cript of  his  own  ministerial  character,  particularly  in 
what  he  says  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Missionary 
must  preach. 

"  The  instruction  which  he  communicates  must  be, 
not  only  pure  and  practical,  but  wisely  adapted  in 
manner  to  his  hearers.  He  certainly  must  not  play 
the  metaphysician,  and  tire  his  hearers  with  abstract 
and  wire-drawn  speculations  ;  nor  the  school-man,  and 
perplex  their  minds  with  innumerable  definitions  and 
discriminations,  of  no  practical  use  ;  nor  the  mere  man 
of  learning,  and  dazzle  them  with  classical  and  distant 
allusions  ;  nor  the  cloistered  divine,  and  tantalize  them 
with  a  needless  display  of  technical  words  and  phrases. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWLN.  285 

He  must  not  affect  the  orator  neither,  and  bear  them 
away  on  the  wings  of  fancy  to  imaginary  scenes  of  joy 
and  sorrow.  In  none  of  these  ways  may  he  preach 
himself.  We  charge  you,  beloved  brethren  !  to  avoid 
all  such  trifling  with  the  awful  message  of  God.  Preach 
the  very  gospel,  in  the  plain  and  forcible  language  w^hich 
the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth.  Diminish  nothing  from  it  to 
gratify  the  wishes  of  unsanctified  men.  Add  not  to  it, 
lest  there  be  added  to  you  the  plagues  which  are  writ- 
ten in  it." 

In  February,  1830,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  solicited  by  the 
Home  Missionary  Society  to  become  their  Associate 
Secretary,  and  remove  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  was, 
for  a  while,  inclined  to  comply  with  the  solicitation, 
and  submitted  it  to  the  trustees  and  afterwards  to  the 
congregation.  The  latter  were  thereby  stirred  up  to 
make  an  effort  to  obtain  funds  for  reducing  the  debt, 
and  he  abandoned  the  idea  of  removal.  The  effort  re- 
sulted in  an  investment,  by  individuals  of  other  congre- 
gations, for  the  most  part,  of  about  $2000  in  pews. 

A  pleasing  specimen  of  the  playfulness  and  spright- 
liness  of  his  domestic  and  social  feelings  is  furnished  in 
the  following  letter  to  Mrs.  B.,  then  spending,  with  her 
children,  a  few  weeks  at  Flatbush,  Long  Island  : 

Aug.  23d,  1830. — "  When  I  received  your  note,  I 
was  on  my  way  to  the  boat  for  Flatbush.  I  thought, 
notwithstanding,  I  would  pursue  my  excursion ;  but  I 
was  hindered,  until  I  lost  the  trip,  and  could  not  take 
the  boat  in  the  evening,  because  of  a  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society. 
In  the  mean  time,  in  comes  brother  Brigham  with  his 
long  face  ; — he  '  wants  some  one  to  visit  Pettipog,  in 
Connecticut.     There  is  to  be  an  important  Anniversary 


286  MEMOIR    OF 

of  the  Bible  Society  in  that  place,  on  Wednesday,  and 
another  in  Westchester  county, — and  nobody  to  go. 
Hundreds  of  dollars  depend  on  having  a  representative 
atPettipog ! — Don't  knovp  what  in  the  world  to  do !' — 
Well,  Pettipog  is  just  by  old  Saybrook,  in  the  same 
town,  where  I  have  forty  cousins,  or  less.  Can  go  in 
the  steam-boat  to-morrow  afternoon,  and  get  back 
Thursday  or  Friday-morning,  at  the  farthest.  And 
brother  Joseph  is  here,  can  go  to  Flatbush  and  help  me 
on  the  Sabbath.  So  off  I  go  to  Pettipog.  I  see  no 
other  way  of  doing  the  most  good.  I  sacrifice  pleasure 
to  duty.     Somebody  must  do  it,  and  bear  it  too." 

During  these  three  years,  there  was  nothing  that 
might  be  called  a  revival  in  connection  with  his  labors 
at  home.  The  average-number  of  additions  to  the 
church  on  profession  was  eighteen  per  year.  The  con- 
gregation was  considerably  enlarged,  and  continued  to 
increase.  But  the  embarrassments,  arising  from  the 
heavy  debt,  incurred  in  the  erection  of  their  house  of 
worship,  were  at  times  very  distressing.  It  was  with 
the  utmost  difficulty  that  the  enterprise  was  sustained, 
and  what  was  done  was  mostly  through  Mr.  Baldwin's 
agency,  in  whole  or  in  part. 

A  season  of  spiritual  prosperity  commenced  early  in 
the  year  1831.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  New- 
York,  in  October,  1830,  he  had  united  with  seven  other 
members  of  the  Presbytery  of  New-York  in  a  request  to 
be  organized  into  a  new  Presbytery,  to  be  called — the 
Third  Presbytery  of  New-York.  The  request  was 
granted,  an5  the  organization  took  place  on  the  fourth 
of  January,  1831.  They  immediately  entered  upon  the 
work  of  attempting  something  for  the  revival  of  religion 
in  their  churches.    On  Thursday,  the  13tb,  they  resolved 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  287 

to  visit  all  their  churches  in  the  city,  by  committees  of 
two  ministers  and  two  elders  each,  during  that  and  the 
following  week. 

This  arrangement  was  carried  into  effect.  The  church 
visited  observed  the  day  with  fasting  and  prayer,  and 
public  religious  exercises.  The  result  was  so  en- 
couraging, when  reported,  that  it  was  resolved  to  com- 
mence, on  the  25th,  a  four-days' -meeting,  in  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Patton's  church,  the  first  of  the  kind  undertaken  by 
Presbyterians  in  this  city,  in  modern  days.  The  revival- 
history  of  the  previous  century  shows  that  it  was  no 
uncommon  thing  in  the  days  of  Whitefield  for  the  house 
of  God  to  be  opened,  several  days  in  succession,  for  the 
preaching  of  the  w^ord,  and  to  be  crowded  with  eager 
assemblies. 

The  same  measure  had  been  greatly  blessed  in  the 
Western  country,  and,  it  was  thought,  would  be  attended 
with  the  happiest  effects  in  the  East,  and  in  New-York 
particularly.  Thrice  every  day  the  house  was  crowded. 
A  similar  meeting  was  commenced  in  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Spring's  church,  on  the  27th,  and  every  day  for  weeks 
subsequently  one  or  more  churches  were  opened  for  the 
public  worship  of  God.  The  effects  were  unspeakably 
blessed.  Never  before  had  the  whole  city  been  so 
simultaneously  and  effectually  moved.  Old  grudges 
and  animosities  were  laid  aside  and  forgotten  ;  brethren 
of  rival  Presbyteries  and  differing  sentiments  took  each 
other  by  the  hand,  and  bowed  together  at  one  altar, 
and  with  one  petition.  Sinners  were  awakened,  and 
soon  hopefully  converted  in  considerable  numbers;  while 
Christians  were  led,  in  almost  every  orthodox  church 
in  the  city,  to  plead  for  "  the  promise  of  the  Father." 
Memorable  season !     Days  of  God's  right  hand  ! 


283  MKMOIR   OF 

In  these  labors  and  anxieties  Mr.  Baldwin  took  a  very 
active  part.  His  own  church  was  visited  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Presbytery,  January  14th,  and  the  effects  were 
soon  apparent.  The  church  was  revived,  and  stirred 
up  to  pray  for  the  conversion  of  souls.  The  public 
union-meetings  which  followed  greatly  advanced  the 
work,  and  early  in  February,  scores  were  inquiring  the 
way  of  reconciliation  with  God. 

On  the  night  of  Tuesday,  the  15th  of  February,  Mr. 
Baldwin  having  attended  a  large  and  deeply  interesting 
inquiry  meeting,  in  the  basement-story  of  the  church, 
had  returned  home,  and  retired  to  rest.  "  At  midnight, 
a  loud  rap  at  the  door  aroused  him  from  his  slumbers. 
He  arose  and  went  to  the  window^  to  inquire  what  was 
wanted.  A  youth  of  his  beloved  flock  was  there,  who 
exclaimed,  with  a  trembling  voice, — *  Oh  !  Mr.  Bald- 
win!— what  shall  we  do? — the  church  is  onfreT^^ 
He  made  a  few  inquiries,  and  returned  to  his  bed,  but 
not  to  rest.  "  He  announced  the  fact,"  says  Mrs.  B., 
"  and  then  sunk  into  a  deep  and  painful  reverie.  He 
could  not  go  out  to  witness  the  appalling  scene.  *  It  was 
a  providence,'  he  afterwards  said,  *  on  which  not  one 
ray  of  light  reflected ;' — and  he  sat  as  one  dumb  before 
the  mysterious  hand  which  had  thus  reduced  to  a  heap 
of  ruins  the  labors  of  years.  One  question  succeeded 
another  in  his  mind  which  he  could  not  solve.  Where 
now  could  the  numerous  flock  be  fed  ?  How  could  the 
work  of  God  be  carried  forward  ?  Whence  could 
friends  be  ^raised  to  liquidatr  the  large  debt  i\i^i  had 
already  been  incurred  in  building?  How  could  he 
make  another  appeal  to  the  benevolent  public  for  aid  ? 
Shall  the  field  be  deserted,  or  shall  w^e  rally  again  ?" 

From  some  cause  never  fully  determined,  the  fire 


RLV.    DU.    BALDWIN.  289 

commenced  its  work  in  the  north-east  room  of  the 
basement  story,  and  was  first  seen  issuing  from  the  outer 
door  of  the  room,  about  midnight.  Its  progress  was 
rapid,  and  before  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  nothing 
was  left  but  the  naked  walls  and  a  smouldering  pile  of 
ruins,  within  and  without.  It  Avas  a  sad  sight  and  a 
dark  hour  to  the  weeping  congregation.  In  the  lan- 
guage of  the  prophet  they  lamented  and  cried, — "  Our 
holy  and  our  beautiful  house,  where  our  fathers  praised 
thee,  is  burned  up  Avith  fire,  and  all  our  pleasant  things 
are  laid  waste  !" 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Measures  to  rebuild. — Fruits  of  tlie  Revival. — Church  rebuilt. 

Another  Revival. — Cholera. — Proposals  for  a  removal. — Ori- 
gin of  Wabash-College. — Consents  to  become  its  President. 
— Loss  of  a  child. — Pastoral  relation  dissolved. — Retrospect. 

The  morning  after  the  fire  brought  with  it  new  duties 
and  new  purposes.  "  Again  he  girded  himself  with 
the  armor  of  self-denial,  and  commenced  the  arduous 
work  of  rebuilding  a  house  for  God."  The  same  day, 
he  called  upon  a  number  of  his  ministerial  brethren  and 
others,  gathered  them  together  and  secured  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  of  intelligent  laymen  to  confer  with 
the  trustees  of  his  con^reo^ation,  in  reference  to  the 
kind  and  amount  of  aid  which  they  would  need.  The 
trustees  came  together  the  same  evening,  and  went 
about  the  work.  The  subject  was  laid  before  the  con- 
gregation on  Friday-evening.  "  And  here,"  says  Mrs* 
13 


290  MEMOIR    OF 

B.,  "  let  a  tribute  be  paid  to  the  congregational  spirit, 
and  expansive  benevolence  with  which  that  prostrate 
people  rallied  around  their  standard,  and  raised  their 
watchword — '  Onward  P  They  acted  a  part  so  noble 
as  greatly  to  endear  them  to  their  leader,  and  to  stimu- 
late anew  that  untiring  zeal  with  which  their  former 
patrons  had  strengthened  their  hands  by  their  liberal 
contributions.  Thus  was  fulfilled  the  warm  assertion 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  S.  some  ten  years  previous,  who  said 
to  Mr.  B.,  as  they  arose  from  supplication, — *  Brother 
Baldwin  !  this  wilderness  shall  bud  and  blossom  as  the 
rose.'  " 

At  the  meeting  of  the  congregation,  which  was  held 
in  All-Saints'  (Episcopal)  church,  in  Henry-street,  they 
resolved  to  rebuild  the  church-edifice,  subscribed  nearly 
1200  dollars  the  same  evening,  and  appointed  a  large 
committee  to  solicit  further  subscriptions.  At  the  same 
meeting  a  communication  was  received  from  the  vestry 
of  All-Saints'  church,  offering  to  the  houseless  con- 
gregation the  free  use  of  the  Henry-street  church,  for 
two  services  on  the  Sabbath, — at  one  and  seven  o'clock 
P.  M., — and  also  for  the  Lecture  on  Friday-evening. 
In  like  manner,  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  in  Third- 
street,  near  Avenue  D.,  opened  their  doors  on  Sabbath 
morning,  and  on  Tuesday-evening,  at  which  latter  time 
the  church  had  always  been  accustomed  to  meet  to- 
gether for  social  worship.  Thus  a  kind  Providence 
furnished  them  with  ample  facilities  for  assembling 
themselves  together  for  the  worship  of  God  and  the 
continued  promotion  of  the  work  of  grace,  which  the 
Holy  Spirit  had  so  recently  commenced  among  them. 

On  the  last  Sabbath  in  March,  Mr.  Baldwin  was 
amply  repaid  for  all  the  sacrifices  that  he  had  made  and 


REV.    DR.    BALUWIxV.  291 

anxieties  that  he  had  endured  in  this  enterprise,  by  seeing 
more  than  half  a  hundred  of  his  congregation  coming 
out  from  the  world,  and  for  the  first  time  publicly  pro- 
fessing their  faith  in  a  crucified  Redeemer.  On  no  other 
occasion  had  he  seen  such  an  ino^atherinoc  amons:  his 

o  o  o 

people.  It  was  the  largest  that  he  was  at  any  one 
time  permitted  to  witness  in  his  own  congregation. 
The  revival  resulted  in  the  addition  subsequently  of 
thirty  other  individuals,  and  in  the  conviction  of  many 
others  who,  in  another  season  of  grace,  were  brought  to 
experience  the  joys  of  forgiveness. 

Thus  the  year  proved  to  be  a  year  of  distinguishing 
mercy,  as  well  as  of  trial.  Jt  was  one,  too,  that  drew 
largely  upon  the  exertions  and  time  of  the  pastor.  It 
was  expected  by  the  congregation  that,  in  every  thing 
pertaining  to  the  temporal,  as  well  as  the  spiritual  con- 
cerns of  the  people,  he  would  take  the  lead  ;  for  so  it 
had  been  from  the  beginning.  He  was  himself  the  life 
and  soul  of  every  good  work  in  which  the  society  en- 
gaged. Consequently  every  such  work  bore  the  impress 
of  his  ow^n  hand. 

Encouraged  by  the  liberality  of  their  fellow-Chris- 
tians in  the  city,  and  timely  aided  by  the  avails  of  the 
insurance,  (which  to  the  amount  of  $12,000  had  been 
effected  previous  to  the  fire,)  and  of  loans  generously 
offered,  the  congregation  were  able  to  pay  their  former 
debt,  and  to  prosecute  the  work  of  rebuilding  with  con- 
siderable rapidity. 

As  the  time  drew^  near  for  the  re-occupancy  of  the 
new  house  of  worship,  Mr.  B.  endeavored  to  make  it 
the  occasion  of  a  more  solemn  and  entire  consecration 
of  himself  to  the  service  of  his  Master.  On  the  tenth  of 
November,  he  reviewed  his  former  resolutions,  and  with 


292  WE.MOIll    OF 

some  alterations  and  additions  bound  himself  anew  to 
their  observance. 

The  new  church  was  finished,  and  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  Savior  on  the  20lh  of  November,  1831. 
The  occasion  was  improved  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Cox  and 
Woodbridge,  and  the  Rev.  Erskine  Mason,  each  of 
whom  preached  appropriate  discourses,  the  latter  in  the 
afternoon,  and  the  two  others  in  the  morning  and  evening 
respectively.  It  was  an  occasion  for  which  I\Ir.  B.  had 
peculiar  reason  to  be  gratified.  Three  houses  of  wor- 
ship he  had  now  erected  for  the  use  of  his  people,  with 
great  toil,  anxiety,  and  self-denial.  The  first  had  been 
disposed  of  in  a  manner,  which  must  have  been  a  con- 
stant source  of  unpleasantness  to  one  who  so  much  de- 
precated the  prevalence  of  any  corrupt  forms  of  religion. 
The  second  had  fallen  a  prey  to  the  flames.  And, 
strange  to  say,  by  this  providence,  the  congregation 
were  relieved  from  many  of  their  embarrassments.  In 
no  other  way  could  so  much  have  been  raised,  either 
among  themselves  or  in  the  other  churches  of  the  city, 
towards  the  liquidation  of  their  burdensome  debt.  They 
had  entered  their  second  house  with  a  debt  of  nearly 
$17,000.  This  was  now  reduced  to  about  $12,000, 
and  the  relief  was  sensibly  felt  and  gratefully  acknow- 
ledged. 

Ever  anxious  most  of  all  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
his  people,  Mr.  B.  had  no  sooner  brought  them  into 
their  new  tabernacle  than  he  sought  for  them  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  Such  blessings  had 
resulted  from  the  "  protracted  meetings"  of  the  pre- 
vious winter,  that  he  was  encouraged  to  make  experi- 
ment of  their  propriety  in  his  own  congregation.  Ac- 
cordingly such  a  meeting,  the  first  of  many  similar, 


KEV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  293 

was  commenced  on  Thanksgiving-day,  December  8th, 
and  continued  four  days.  Thrice  on  each  of  these 
days,  as  the  custom  then  was,  the  congregation  assem- 
bled, and  a  sermon  w^as  preached  on  each  occasion  by 
some  member  of  the  Third  Presbytery  of  New-York. 

A  revival  followed.  On  the  20th  of  January,  1832, 
the  pastor  says  of  the  protracted  meeting, — "  It  was 
not  full,  but  many  attended,  and  the  result  was  happy. 
A  revival  has,  since  that  time,  been  in  progress,  and  at 
this  time  probably  fifty  persons  are  indulging  hopes  of 
recent  acceptance  with  Christ.  To-day  is  kept  by  us  as  a 
season  of  special  prayer.  Never  have  I  felt  that  we 
had  more  reason,  as  a  congregation,  for  gratitude  to 
God,  or  more  encouragement  to  pray  for  an  extensive 
blessing  upon  this  neighborhood.  Never  have  I  felt 
my  soul  more  lifted  up  in  the  service  of  God." 

As  usual  in  such  a  season,  Mr.  Baldwin  entered  into 
the  work  not  only  with  characteristic  ardor,  but  with 
an  elevated  experience  of  Christian  joy.  The  first- 
fruits  of  the  revival  were  received  into  the  church  on 
the  fourth  Sabbath  of  January.  On  this  occasion  (22d) 
he  writes, — "  This  Sabbath  morning  has  been  a  pre- 
cious season  in  the  house  of  God.  Thirty-four  persons 
have  professed  their  love  to  Christ  and  his  gospel. 
The  congregation  has  been  large,  attentive,  and  sol- 
emn. VV'e  expect  to  improve  the  afternoon  in  cele- 
brating our  Savior's  love — and  what  can  I  say  7  — even 
as  one  of  old  said,  '  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  livelh;' 
and  with  the  apostle,  too, '  I  know  in  whom  I  have 
believed.'  I  think  I  do  know^  and  rejoice  in  hope  of 
the  glory  of  God." 

In  prospect  of  another  season  of  ingathering  he  says, 
March  16, — "  This  day,  by  request  of  the  session,  is  set 


294  MEMOIR    OF 

apart  as  a  season  of  fasting  and  prayer.  We  have 
done  this,  in  prospect  of  our  communion  the  next  Sab- 
bath, the  18th  inst.  It  becomes  my  people,  and  my- 
self in  particular,  to  fast  on  this  occasion.  We  have 
received  innumerable  and  very  special  mercies  of  late, 
for  which  we  are  not  duly  thankful.  Within  the  past 
year,  we  have  received  at  five  communions  nearly  180 
members.  There  has  been,  for  several  months,  a  pre- 
cious revival  among  us;  numbers  have  been  converted, 
and  others  are  religiously  impressed.  But  there  is  rea- 
son to  believe,  that  but  few  of  the  church  are  awake  to 
the  magnitude  of  the  blessing." 

The  year  1832  proved  to  be  the  most  prosperous  of 
his  ministry.  One  hundred  and  seventy-four  individu- 
als were  added  to  his  church,  of  whom  forty-nine  were 
from  other  churches.  As  it  was  with  the  revival  of 
1822,  so  was  it  with  this ; — mercy  was  speedily  fol- 
lowed with  judgment.  The  desolating  cholera  made 
its  appearance  in  the  city  early  in  the  following  July, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  swept  thousands  from  the  land  of 
the  living. 

While  consternation  pervaded  the  whole  community, 
and  scores  of  thousands  fled  to  distant  places  to  avoid 
the  pestilence,  Mr.  Baldwin  remained  at  his  post,  to 
console  his  people  in  their  sorrows,  to  counsel  and 
plead  for  the  dying,  and  to  minister  at  the  burial  of 
the  dead.  His  labors  were  never  more  arduous  nor 
trying,  and  at  no  time  did  he  shrink  from  the  obvious 
path  of  duty. 

A  letter  to  his  parents,  at  the  close  of  the  following 
spring,  exhibits  somewhat  of  his  domestic  history  at 
this  period.  It  is  dated  May  21,  1833.—"  1  hasten  to 
make  some  amends  for  ray   long  delay  to  write,  by 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  295 

sending  you  a  particular  account  of  our  little  affairs. 
During  the  past  season  my  family  have  been  afflicted 
with  much  ill-health,  though  none  of  us  have  been 
dangerously  ill.  I  have  seldom  enjoyed  more  health. 
J.  has  been  feeble.  The  children  have  all  been  ill. 
They  are  now  pretty  well,  with  the  exception  of  Fran- 
ces Lord,  who  received  an  injury  from  a  fall,  about 
eleven  months  since,  from  which  she  has  never  recov- 
ered. She  has  partially  lost  the  use  of  her  left  arm, 
but  we  hope  only  for  a  time.  The  babe,  Edward  Cor- 
nelius, is  about  being  weaned,  and  doing  well.  Our 
mother  has  scarcely  recovered  from  a  short  illness. 
Thus  we  have  chastisements  mingled  with  mercies. 
We  need  the  former,  and  hope  they  will  be  sanctified. 

"  Our  chihh'en  continue  to  be  a  comfort  to  us,  though 
we  have  been  taught  to  regard  them  as  uncertain,  con- 
sidered as  sources  of  enjoyment.  We  desire  that  they 
may  have  a  daily  remembrance  in  your  prayers.  Julia 
is  forward  in  her  studies,  and  learns  with  great  rapid- 
ity. Joseph  is  not  so  fond  of  his  books,  but  he  is  an 
ingenuous  and  interesting  little  boy.  Frances  has 
scarcely  begun  to  learn.  They  all  have  many  inqui- 
ries to  make  after  their  grand-parents  in  Ohio.  It 
would  give  me  great  satisfaction  to  visit  you  shortly 
with  these  little  prattlers,  but  I  shall  not  be  able  to  do 
it  the  coming  summer.  I  have  thought  much  of  the 
subject,  and  have  felt  a  strong  desire  to  visit  my  dear 
parents  and  brothers  and  sisters,  while  I  may  meet 
thetTi  all  in  the  land  of  the  living.  The  reasons  for 
not  attempting  the  journey  are  such  as  I  can  neither  re- 
move nor  overcome.  I  can  add,  that  J.  has  scarcely 
less  desire  than  myself  to  see  Ohio  again. 

"  The  condition  of  my  congregation  has  been  im- 


596  MEMOIK    OF 

proved  rather  than  the  contrary,  by  the  loss  occasioned 
in  the  conflagration  of  our  church.  We  have  now  a 
commodious  and  very  neat  house  of  worship,  and  it  has 
thus  far  been  well-filled  with  worshippers.  In  the  mean 
time,  however,  the  people  have  made  but  a  scanty  pro- 
vision for  their  pastor.  My  salary  has  recently  been 
considerably  increased,  and  now  amounts  to  1200  dol- 
lars,— not,  hoW'Cver,  until  I  had  considerably  involved 
myself  in  debt.  The  low  state  of  my  funds  and  the 
need  I  have  to  economize,  that  I  may  avoid  embar- 
rassment, is  one  reason  why  I  cannot  just  now  attempt 
a  western  excursion. 

"  I  have  often  said  to  you,  in  my  letters,  that  I  do 
not  regard  myself  as  permanently  located,  even  for  this 
short  life,  in  the  city  of  New^-York.  I  have  ever  had 
this  impression  respecting  my  connection  w'ith  my  pres- 
ent charge.  You  must  not  be  surprised,  should  you 
hear  of  my  removal  to  some  other  field  of  labor. 

"  I  have  heard  that  there  is  a  powerful  revival  in 
Durham,  Conn.,  but  do  not  know  the  particulars. 
The  Anniversaries  recently  held  in  this  city  have  been 
interesting,  and  calculated  to  encourage  the  friends  of 
the  gospel.  The  great  enterprise  of  converting  the 
world  is  moving  forward,  and  God  will  have  all  the 
glory  of  it. 

"  I  trust  that  my  dear  parents  find  their  hope  more 
and  more  as  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  reaching  to  those 
things  which  are  unseen  and  within  the  upper  sanctu- 
ary. Surely,  life  is  a  dream.  But  eternal  salvation  is 
long  enough  to  satisfy  all  our  desires.  And  if  we  are 
Christ's,  we  shall  soon  be  with  him." 

A  period  of  eighteen  months  now  elapsed,  marked 
with  but  few  incidents  other  than  ordinary.     In  a  let- 


IlEV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  297 

ter  to  his  brother  Sylvester,  dated  June  17,  1834,  he 
remarks, — "  1  have  been,  more  than  most  ministers, 
either  in  the  country  or  city,  confined  to  my  people  ; 
and  this  devotion  to  their  spiritual  interests  has  been 
rendered  specially  requisite  by  the  circumstances  of  my 
congregation.  I  have  a  lar2;e  people.  The  number  of 
communicants  cannot  be  less  than  600.  I  have  been 
accustomed  from  the  first  to  preach  a  great  deal  and 
attend  many  meetings  among  them.  The  result  is, 
that  my  people  expect  n»ore  from  me  than  most  con- 
gregations do  from  their  pastors.  And  I  have  been 
unwilling  to  leave  them  in  danger  of  suffering  loss  or 
injury  by  my  neglect. 

"  I  have  thought,  more  than  once,  that  it  might  be 
well  for  rae  to  remove  once ;  and  have  therefore 
talked  of  leaving  this  city  for  some  field  in  the  country. 
But,  at  present,  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  par- 
ticular cause  for  ray  removal  from  New-York.  My 
people  appear  to  be  united,  and  satisfied  with  ray  in- 
structions. I  do  not  know  that  there  are  any  discon- 
tented families  among  us. 

"  Were  I  to  remove  soon,  I  should  think  it  my  duty 
to  seek  a  pretty  large  sphere  of  usefulness.  My  situa- 
tion here,  and  varied  labors,  have  given  mc  advantages 
for  occupying  such  a  sphere.  I  can  say  no  more  than 
this  respecting  any  situation  which  might  be  open  to 
rae  in  the  ministry. 

"  We  have  a  little  daughter,  eiven  to  us  on  the  12th 
day  of  May,  whom  we  call  Louisa  Goldsmith.  She  is 
a  fine  child." 

Again  on  the  14th  of  September,  he  writes, — "The 
history  of  my  labors,  the  last  twelve  months,  would 
exhibit  but  little  that  is  worth  preserving.     I  have 


298  MEMOIR    OF 

preached  much  and  held  many  meetings  among  my 
people,  wiih  no  special  results.  Never  since  1  became  a 
minister,  have  I  toiled  so  hard  and  long  with  such  little 
success.  The  fact  is  mortifying  ;  it  ought  undoubtedly 
to  humble  me." 

The  additions  to  his  church  during  the  period  to 
which  he  refers  above,  were  forty-four,  of  w^hom  twen- 
ty-six were  on  profession  of  their  faith.  Many  preach- 
ers would  have  thought  themselves  highly  favored  with 
such  results  of  a  year's  ministry.  But  the  revivals 
through  which  he  had  just  passed,  had  taught  him  to 
expect  gre;\t  things,  and  to  look  for  a  frequent  renewal 
of  those  days  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High. 

As  he  was  thus  quietly  and  unostentatiously  pursuing 
his  labors  in  this  interesting  field,  reaping  and  receiving 
those  wages  in  which  every  faithful  servant  of  Christ 
most  delights,  he  was,  one  day  in  the  autumn  of  1834, 
waited  on  by  a  clergyman  from  the  West.  The  stran- 
ger called  the  attention  of  Mr.  Baldwin  to  the  fact  that 
a  college  had  recently  been  established  in  the  town  of 
Crawfordsviile,  in  the  Upper  Wabash-country.  Of  this 
institution  he  proceeded  to  give  the  history. 

"  Here,"  said  he,  taking  a  map  of  the  north-western 
States  from  his  pocket,  "  is  a  country  of  15,000  square 
miles  in  extent,  that  possesses  a  soil  and  other  natural 
resources  not  surpassed  by  any  equal  extent  of  country 
either  East  or  West.  It  lies,  you  observe,  to  the  north 
of  the  National  Road,  and  east  of  the  Grand  Prairie. 
Already.it  is  divided  into  twenty-four  counties,  and  is 
equal  in  extent  to  the  whole  of  Rhode-Island,  Connec- 
ticut and  Massachusetts.  Twelve  years  ago  it  was  a 
wilderness.  Now  it  contains  more  than  100,000  souls, 
and  the  population  is  increasing  with  amazing  rapidity. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  299 

"  Now  as  you  cast  your  eye  eastward  from  the  cen- 
tre of  ihis  region,  you  will  discover  the  Miami  Univer- 
sity at  Oxford,  in  Ohio.  If  you  look  westward,  there  is 
the  infant  college  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  At  the 
south,  you  perceive  that  there  is  a  college  at  Blooming- 
ton  in  Indiana,  near  the  Ohio  River.  To  the  north, 
you  may  stretch  your  eye  away  to  that  far-renowned 
line,  where  '  the  foot  of  the  white  man  treads  upon  the 
heel  of  the  Indian.' 

"  Two  years  ago,  in  this  vast  territory  there  was  no 
college,  no  academy,  no  public  classical  school, — no- 
thing of  the  kind  to  call  out  the  rising  intellect  of  the 
country — nothing  to  shed  its  genial  influence  over  the 
interests  of  universal  education.     The  picture  was  de- 
plorable enough  to  us  who  had  made  that  country  our 
home,  and  were  endeavoring  to  elevate  there  the  stand- 
ard of  the  cross.     We  met  together,  several  of  us  from 
New-England  and  others,  in  the  month  of  December, 
1832,  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  James  Thompson,  pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Crawfordsville,  tosee 
what  could   be  done.     After  a  careful  survey  of  the 
ground,  we  came  to  the  resolution  that,  with  the  divine 
blessing,  we  would  lay  the  foundations  of  a  permanent 
institution,  which  should  erect  the  standard  of  Christian 
classical  education  for  this  wide  and  unoccupied  field. 
"  We  presented    the  plan   at  a  public  meeting  in 
Crawfordsville,  soon  after  obtained  the  grant  of  a  site, 
and  money  for  a  small  building  in  which  to  commence 
operations.     A  year  since,  the  primary  department  was 
opened  under  the  charge  of  Prof.  C.  Mills.     Last  win- 
ter we  obtained  a  college-charter,  and  are  now  strain- 
ing every  nerve  to  endow  the  institution.     We  have 
fifty-four  acres  of  ground  finely  located  about  half  a 


300  MEMOIR    OF 

mile  from  the  village,  and  we  want  a  college-building, 
and  more  than  all,  a  coWege-head.  In  short,  we  want 
a  Pi'esidejit  for  our  infant  institution.  Will  you,  my 
dear  sir !  come  over  and  help  us  ?  V/ill  you  be  onr 
frst  President  ?" 

Such,  for  substance,  was  the  proposition  of  Prof  E.  C. 
Hovey,  as  he  concluded  the  presentation  of  the  claims 
of  Wabash  College  to  Mr.  Baldwin.  "  After  an  hour's 
interview,"  says  Mr.  Hovey,  "  with  hiL=;  characteristic 
and  beneficent  smile,  he  consented  to  take  the  subject 
under  consideration,  and  invited  me  to  a  second  inter- 
view. Frequent  interviews  were  had  on  the  subject ; 
the  great  interests  of  the  West  were  discussed.  The 
high  importance  of  permanent  institutions  of  learning 
under  Christian  influence,  together  with  their  intimate 
connection  with  every  other  effort  for  the  benefaction 
of  mind,  operated  strongly  to  induce  his  favorably  en- 
tertaining the  proposition." 

However  flattering  it  might  have  been  to  be  selected 
for  a  post  of  so  much  responsibility,  he  could  not  regard 
the  invitation  as  promising  much  worldly  advantage. 
The  church,  which  he  had  labored  so  long  and  faith- 
fully to  establish,  had  now  grown  into  a  prosperous 
community  of  Christians.  He  might  now  with  good 
reason  look  forward  to  the  receipt  of  a  regular  income, 
and  to  the  enjoyment  of  some  relief  from  the  arduous 
and  perplexing  cares,  which  had  hitherto  heavily 
pressed  upon  him.  In  the  new  world  of  the  West, 
and  especially  in  an  institution  yet  to  be  established, 
having  scarcely  more  than 

"  A  local  habitation  and  a  name," 

he  must  expect  to  renew  the  toils  and  anxieties,  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  301 

self-denials  and  sacrifices  of  early  life.  He  would 
have  to  remove  from  the  great  American  centre  of 
commerce  and  opulence,  to  the  almost  untrodden  prai- 
ries and  unbroken  wilderness  of  a  far-distant  land,  and 
with  his  wife  and  little  ones,  begin  the  world  anew. 
Uncertain,  too,  as  well  as  deficient,  in  the  nature  of  the 
case,  would  his  income  be.     What  shall  he  do  '? 

The  application  of  the  college-agent  to  Mr.  Baldwin 
had  not  been  unadvised.  The  counsel  of  ministerial 
brethren  and  others  had  been  sought, — of  men  fully  ac- 
quainted with  his  qualifications,  by  long  and  frequent 
observation  of  his  private  and  public  life, — ere  the  mat- 
ter was  brought  before  his  own  mind.  The  estimate 
formed  and  expressed  by  these  brethren,  shows  in  what 
esteem  he  was  held  by  those  who  knew  him  best.  One 
of  those  who  had  thus  been  consulted  in  a  communica- 
tion, bearing  date,  December  3,  1834,  to  the  President 
and  Trustees  of  Wabash-College,  uses  the  following 
language  : 

"  I  have  conferred  fully  with  your  agent,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hovey,  and  have  felt,  with  him,  much  anxiety  to 
select  a  suitable  man,  in  all  respects,  to  be  nominated 
to  your  Board  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  College. 
We  are  at  length  persuaded  that  Providence  has  directed 
us  to  the  right  man.  In  the  whole  wide  circle  of  my 
acquaintance  among  the  clergy  of  the  United  States,  I 
do  not  know  another  whom  I  could  more  unhesitatingly 
recommend  to  that  office. 

"  The  Rev.  Elihu  W' .  Baldwin,  pastor  of  the  Seventh 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  city,  I  have  known  inti- 
mately for  many  years,  and  can  safely  say,  that  no  one 
has  more  constantly  commanded  my  entire  confidence, 
esteem  and  love.     He  is  a  faithful,  self-denying  and 


302  MEMOIR    OF 

persevering  minister,  and  few  of  our  brethren  have 
been  so  constantly  and  increasingly  useful.  His  piety 
is  a  pervading  and  controlling  principle  :  his  tempera- 
ment is  cheerful  and  amiable,  and  his  entire  influence 
conciliatory  and  harmonizing.  In  all  the  controversies 
which  have  agitated  our  churches.  Brother  Baldwin 
has  been  pre-eminently  a  peace-maker.  He  abhors 
contention  as  much  as  "  nature  abhors  a  vacuum,"  and 
spontaneously  seeks  to  spread  around  him  the  atmo- 
sphere of  unanimity.  At  the  same  time  he  is  frank  and 
ready  in  address,  self-sacrificing  in  labors,  ready  on  all 
occasions  to  do  his  part.  His  voice  is  loud  and  dis- 
tinct, manners  free,  though  not  obtrusive,  and  the 
whole  style  of  the  man  seems  to  me  to  fit  him  pecu- 
liarly for  an  extensive,  and  altogether  a  good  influence 
in  the  West.  His  strength,  as  a  man  of  talents,  is 
highly  respectable ;  and  having  been  much  engaged  in 
instruction  in  early  life,  he  is  much  more  familiar,  than 
most  of  us,  with  the  studies  pursued  in  college.  As  a 
scholar,  he  is  fully  qualified  for  the  place  for  which  vi'e 
name  him. 

"  I  have  been  thus  particular  in  describing  the  quali- 
ties of  Mr.  Baldwin,  because  I  know  him  well,  and 
take  great  pleasure  in  saying  all  these  good  things  of 
one  whom  I  esteem  so  highly.  Yet  all  my  personal 
feelings  oppose  the  influence  I  am  endeavoring  to  use 
for  his  removal  from  this  city.  His  brethren  here  gen- 
erally will  regret  to  lose  his  general  influence  among 
them.  As  far  as  I  know,  there  is  but  one  feelingr 
among  us,  in  this  respect.  For  myself  I  can  truly  say, 
I  shall  be  sorry  to  spare  him  from  the  circle  of  beloved 
brethren  with  whom  it  is  my  privilege  to  take  sweet 
counsel,  and    from  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  303 

A.  H.  M.  Society,  where  I  have  been  associated  with 
him  during  the  whole  time  of  my  residence  in  New- 
York.  The  sum  of  the  whole  matter  is,  that  against 
all  my  selfish  feelings,  I  do  most  cordially  and  disin- 
terestedly, and  only  because  1  think  him  well  qualified 
for  the  place,  recommend  that  you  appoint  Brother 
Baldwin  as  your  President. 

"  In  saying  this,  I  am  sure  that  I  speak  the  sentiments 
of  most  of  our  brethren  here  who  appreciate  the  im- 
portance of  the  Wabash-College.  I  am  happy  also  to 
add,  what  Brother  Hovey  has  already  informed  you  of, 
that  we  have  good  reason  to  believe  he  will  accept, 
if  he  is  appointed  ;  and  his  acceptance  will  inter- 
est many  friends  here  in  your  college,  and,  I  doubt  not, 
will  aid  your  agent  much  in  raising  funds.  On  this 
point,  however,  you  must  not  lean  too  much  upon 
friends  abroad.  If  we  spare  you,  so  willingly,  so  good 
a  man,  we  shall  expect  you  to  express  your  gratitude 
by  doing  all  you  can  among  yourselves,  and  in  your 
own  State,  to  endow  your  institution,  and  if  need  be,  I 
trust,  you  will  get  help  from  us.  May  the  Lord  direct 
you,  and  the  dear  brother  whom  I  have  taken  the  lib- 
erty thus  fully  to  commend  to  your  confidence  and 
esteem.     May  I  also  commend  him  to  your  prayers  7" 

This  testimonial,  so  full,  frank,  and  flattering,  is  sub- 
scribed by  several  of  his  ministerial  brethren  and  others 
in  the  city  of  New-York,  whose  opportunities  of  judg- 
ing in  the  case  had  been  most  ample.  It  was  to  these, 
and  to  such  as  these,  that  Mr.  B.  had  applied  for  coun- 
sel in  this  matter ;  and,  therefore,  it  is  not  surprising, 
as  is  hinted  in  Dr.  Peters's  letter  above,  that,  at  that 
date,  he  had  already  consented  to  become  a  candidate 


304  MRMOIR    OF 

for  the  unoccupied,  laborious,  and  self-denying  office. 
To  this  decision  be  was  brought,  in  part,  by  the  assui-- 
ance  of  several  gentlemen  of  wealth  and  distinction  in 
the  city,  that,  should  he  embark  in  the  enterprise,  they 
would  extend  to  it  a  liberal  patronage. 

In  this  state  of  mind,  he  received,  during  the  month 
of  December,  a  call  from  New-London,  Connecticut, 
and  another  from  Richmond,  Virginia.  He  was  also 
urgently  addressed  in  relation  to  a  professorship  of  the- 
ology in  a  flourishing  western  Institution.  His  duty 
it  seemed  difficult  for  a  time  to  ascertain,  and  his 
spirits  were  not  a  little  depressed  in  consequence.  "  To 
whom,"  he  says,  "can  I  go  but  unto  thee,  my  God  and 
my  Redeemer  ? — I  have  long  felt  the  need  of  a  revival 
in  my  own  soul.  I  want  a  more  tender  spirit,  more 
prayerfulness,  more  confidence  in  God,  and  more  com- 
passion for  impenitent  sinners.  I  have  need  of  a  self- 
denying  spirit,  especially  in  view  of  what  the  provi- 
dence of  God  seems  about  to  lay  upon  me." 

In  the  midst  of  these  perplexities,  and  when  the  call 
from  Wabash-College  had  been  presented  to  him  in 
due  form,  it  pleased  God  to  call  him  to  pass  again 
through  deep  waters.  Under  date  o^  January  24,  1835, 
he  says, — "  The  last  eight  days  have  made  a  solemn 
breach  upon  my  domestic  enjoyments.  Yesterday,  at 
5  o'clock,  little  Edward  Cornelius  finished  his  earthly 
pilgrimage,  aged  two  years,  ten  months,  and  sixteen 
days.  His  sickness  lasted  from  Friday-afternoon  till 
the  next  Friday  at  5  P.  i\I. 

"  At  the  commencement  of  his  illness,  we  had  no 
suspicion  of  the  result.  Nor  was  it  till  the  day  pre- 
ceding his  death,  that  we  began  to  anticipate  it.     His 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  305 

sufferings  were  considerable,  but  not  very  great,  con- 
sidering the  nature  of  his  disease,  which  terminated  in 
dropsy  of  the  head. 

"  The  affliction  has  come  heavily  and  suddenly — but, 
blessed  be  God !  I  have  no  disposition  to  murmur 
against  Divine  Providence.  The  chastisement  was 
needed.  I  confess  the  fact,  and  pray  God  that  I  may 
be  able  to  lament  as  I  ought,  I  desire  that  I  may  have 
it  sanctified  to  me  and  my  house.  The  blessed  Re- 
deemer follow  it  with  his  blessing  !" 

At  length,  on  the  19th  of  February,  he  informed  the 
session  of  his  church  of  his  appointment  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  college,  and  of  his  apprehension  that  it 
would  be  his  duty  to  accept  it.  He  desired  them, 
therefore,  to  bring  the  matter  before  the  congregation. 
In  the  mean  time,  he  signified  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
College,  Feb.  27,  his  acceptance  in  the  manner  fol- 
lowing : 

"  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF  WABASH 
COLLEGE : 

"  Gentlemen  : 

"  The  communication,  informing  me  of  my  appoint- 
ment to  the  presidency  of  your  College,  has  not  re- 
mained unanswered  from  any  want  of  interest  in  the 
subject  to  which  it  refers.  Having  conferred  freely 
with  your  agent.  Rev.  Mr.  Hovey,  relative  to  the 
whole  affair,  and  with  entire  confidence  in  his  candor 
and  prudence,  I  have  not  considered  it  necessary  to 
w^rite  for  additional  information.  I  have  also  trusted 
to  him  to  convey  to  you,  through  some  member  of  the 
Board,  so  much  of  the  impressions  of  my  mind  on  the 
subject,  as  could  be  properly  imparted  previously  to  my 
decision. 


306  MEMOIR    OF 

*'  I  need  iivot  say  to  you,  gentlemen,  that  I  have  from 
the  first  considered  the  question  of  acceptance  a  very 
serious  one.  I  do  not  covet  a  more  public  and  respon- 
sible station  than  I  now  occupy;  nor  have  I  formed  a 
hio-h  estimate  of  ray  qualifications  for  that  which  you 
propose.  I  am  apprehensive,  that  my  acceptance  may 
remove  me  from  a  sphere  of  labor  and  influence  where 
1  am  much  at  home,  and  enjoy  an  encourasing  meas- 
ure of  success,  to  one  which  I  shall  never  fill  with  the 
same  degree  of  acceptance.  But,  notwithstanding 
these  grounds  of  apprehension,  and  many  other  rea- 
sons which  might  be  stated  for  making  a  different 
election,  I  have  concluded  to  accept  your  appointment. 
The  very  desirable  location  of  the  college,  the  spirit  of 
Christian  enterprise  in  which  it  seems  to  have  been 
commenced,  the  pressing  claims  of  "  the  Great  Val- 
ley," together  with  the  decided  advice  of  many  judi- 
cious friends,  and  the  liberality  which  some  of  our 
wealthy  citizens  are  disposed  to  extend  to  your  institu- 
tion in  connection  with  ray  appointment,  have  had 
great  influence  in  this  decision. 

"I  have  endeavored,  by  seeking  direction  at  the 
Fountain  of  all  wisdom,  to  ascertain  what  is  duty  ;  and 
if  I  have  erred  in  respect  to  it,  I  must  still  feel,  that  a 
solemn  impression  of  my  obligations  to  God  and  my 
fellow  citizens,  has  dictated  this  decision." 

The  congregation  met  on  the  4th  and  lllh  of  March, 
and  at  the  latter  meeting  passed  the  following  resolu- 
tions :  "  1.  That  it  is  with  deep  regret  that  we  are 
called  upon  to  part  with  our  beloved  Pastor,  whose 
useful  labors  we  have  alieady  enjoyed.  2.  That  were 
our  feelings  only  consulted,  we  could  not  consent  to 
the  dissolution.     3.  That,  taking  into  consideration  all 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  307 

the  circumstances  of  the  case — the  reasons  assigned 
by  Mr.  Baldwin — we  consent  to  unite  with  him  in 
asking  the  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation 
between  us.  4.  That  it  is  expedient  that  this  relation 
should  cease  on  the  first  of  May  next."  The  applica- 
tion was  made  to  the  Presbytery  on  the  18th  of  April, 
and  the  connection  prospectively  dissolved. 

Thus  was  terminated,  with  the  kindest  feelings  on 
the  part  both  of  pastor  and  people,  a  relation  which  in 
fact,  if  not  in  form,  had  existed  for  a  period  of  seven- 
teen years.  Great  and  marvellous  had,  in  the  mean 
time,  been  the  changes  in  the  physical  and  moral  as- 
pect of  the  whole  neighborhood.  The  rugged  hills 
had  been  levelled  ;  the  formidable  rocks  blasted  and 
removed  ;  the  streets  regulated  and  paved  ;  the  open 
fields  converted  into  compact  bloc;ks  of  buildings,  filled 
with  people  ;  church  after  church  had  arisen  ;  thou- 
sands of  children  had  been  gathered  into  Sunday- 
Schools  ;  the  Sabbath  had  become  a  day  of  rest  and 
of  public  worship  by  the  mass  of  the  people ;  hundreds 
of  precious  souls  had  been  converted,  and  thousands 
brought  under  the  direct  influence  of  the  preaching  of 
the  cross.  The  little  church  of  twenty  unlettered  and 
unportioned  individuals  had  received  an  addition  of  860 
persons,  of  w^hom  530  had  been  gathered  from  "  the 
world's  wide  wilderness."  At  the  close  of  this  period, 
about  600  remained  still  in  connection  with  the  church. 

In  thus  summing  up  the  results  of  the  missionary  and 
pastoral  efforts  of  Mr.  Baldwin  during  his  residence  in 
the  city,  it  cannot  be  out  of  place  to  refer  to  his  own 
account  of  the  instrumentalities  by  which  the  blessing 
was  brought  about.  The  encouragement  to  other  hum- 
ble ministers  of  the  gospel  to  "  go  and  do  likewise,"  is 


308  MEMOIR    OF 

very  great.  Mr.  B.  never  arrocrated  to  himself  any 
superior  wisdom  in  these  respects,  but  always  thought 
that  any  one  else  in  like  circumstances  could,  with  the 
same  gracious  resources,  have  accomplished  as  much. 

"  The  instrumentalities   in   question,"  he   remarks, 
"  comprise  three  leading  characteristics. 

"  1.  This  favored  enterprise  was  commenced  with  a 
solemn  and  cherished  impression  of  dependence  en  God 
for  every  measure  of  success.  I  speak  of  what  appeared 
in  the  professions  and  conduct  of  the  httle  band  asso- 
ciated. They  gave  themselves  up  to  fervent  prayer  ; 
they  looked  to  God,  in  the  diligent  study  of  his  word 
and  providence,  for  direction  in  all  their  proceedings, 
and  were  specially  fearful  of  grieving  the  Holy  Spirit 
by  any  division  or  unbrotherly  acts  among  themselves. 
Very  little  of  worldly  interest,  pride  or  ambition,  seemed 
to  be  enlisted  in  the  undertaking.  The  strife  was  for 
mastery  and  triumph  over  the  irreligion  and  vice  which 
held  here  their  destructive  sway,  immortal  minds  were 
sought  to  be  elevated  from  the  ingratitude  and  debase- 
ment of  practical  impiety,  to  the  love  of  truth  and 
duty,  and  the  habitual  cultivation  of  every  Christian 
virtue.  We  looked  to  see  a  multitude  brought  under 
the  transforming  influences  of  the  gospel,  that  should 
prove  '  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works.' 
Such  was  the  end  proposed,  and  which  it  was  felt 
could  never  be  realized  but  through  the  unmerited 
grace  and  mighty  powder  of  God.  Let  those  call  this 
superstition  or  fanaticism  who  will  ;  for  myself  1  es- 
teem it  sound  })hilosophy,— true  wisdom,  which  is  none 
the  worse  because  it  '  cometh  down  l>om  above.'  It 
was  certainly  the  leading,  practical  sentiment,  which 
moved,  almost  as  one  heart,  the  little  company  that 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  309 

constituted  the  humble  founders  of  the  Seventh  Pres- 
byterian church.  It  is  a  spirit  which  gives  glory  to 
God,  and  might  therefore  naturally  be  expected  to 
realize  his  blessing. 

**2.  Another  prominent  feature  in  the  enterprise  de- 
tailed, was  the  concentration  of  the  active  piety  of  the 
congregation  in  efforts  most  directly  coniiected  with  the 
conversion  of  men.  Meetings  for  prayer,  and  religious 
conference,  were  early  instituted  for  different  classes  of 
the  congregation,  and,  in  connection  with  their  several 
departments  of  Christian  effort.  These  the  pastors  and 
elders  ever  found  it  both  safe  and  useful  to  encourao:e. 
But  the  most  undivided  and  persevering  efforts  w^ere 
directed  to  Sabbath-School  instruction  and  the  distri- 
bution of  religious  tracts.  Other  means  of  doing  good 
were  not  overlooked.  The  Temperance-reformation 
was  urged  with  happy  success,  and  the  Bible-cause 
employed  many  willing  hands  in  giving  the  inspired 
volume  to  the  destitute.  But  the  most  strenuous  ef- 
forts were  put  forth  on  behalf  of  the  Sabbath-School 
and  Tract-enterprises.  The  former,  especially,  pre- 
ceded the  formation  of  the  church;  and  had  no  small 
influence,  as  a  means  of  grace,  in  supplying  its  earliest 
members.  It  united  the  favor  of  the  people,  in  a  sin- 
gular degree.  There  never  was  a  time  w^hen  any 
measure  could  have  been  carried  in  the  congregation, 
much  less  in  the  church,  which  had  the  appearance  of 
militating  against  the  interests  of  our  Sabbath-Schools. 
In  fact,  a  singularly  large  proportion  of  the  piety 
among  us,  was  always  actively  enlisted  in  their  sup- 
port ;  w-hile  the  youth  ever  regarded  them  as  specially 
their  department  of  Christian  labor. 

"  3.  Much  care  was  used,  from  the  first,  to  exclude 


310  MEMOIR    OF 

those  causes  of  contention,  ichich  are  observed  to  destroy 
the  "peace  of  other  churches.  *  The  beginning  of  strife,' 
says  the  wise  man,  *  is  as  when  one  letteth  out  water  : 
therefore  leave  off  contention,  before  it  be  meddled 
with.' 

"  The  terms  of  communion  in  the  Seventh  church, 
have  remained  till  now,  where  the  constitution  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and,  what  is  more,  the  New  Tes- 
tament seems  to  leave  them.  The  plan,  indeed,  was 
not  to  exclude  temperance,  purity,  or  any  other  virtue, 
from  receiving  their  due  consideration,  in  the  reception 
of  persons  to  sealing  ordinances;  nor  to  lay  restric- 
tions on  the  members,  in  their  individual  opinions  and 
movements  on  behalf  of  any  undertaking  against  wick- 
edness in  high  or  in  low  places.  But  those  associa- 
tions, which  contain  within  them  the  seeds  of  dissension 
among  brethren  were  discouraged.  Those  discussions, 
also,  which  have  been  attended  in  other  congregations 
with  more  of  dissension  and  excitement  than  of  practi- 
cal advantage,  were  entertained  with  much  caution. 
Even  the  measures  used  in  times  of  revival  to  promote 
the  work  of  God,  w-ere  carefully  adapted  to  the  occa- 
sion and  desires  of  the  people. 

"  We  claim  no  superior  wisdom,  in  having  by  the 
grace  of  God  avoided  the  rocks  on  which  others  have 
split ;  nor  should  we  detail  it,  but  for  the  influence  it 
has  had  on  the  prosperity  of  the  congregation.  The 
practical  effect  has  been,  peace  among  themselves, — a 
charitable  agreement  to  differ  in  opinion  respecting 
some  things  without  strife  or  denunciation,  and  feelings 
of  respect  and  good-will  towards  their  Christian  breth- 
ren of  other  churches.  Here  at  least,  the  distinctions  of 
*  Old  and  New  School,'  '  high  and  low  Presbyterian,' 


REV.    DK.    BALDWIN.  311 

with  other  unchristian  epithets,  have  not  met  the  min- 
ister of  Christ  at  the  gate  of  the  sanctuary,  and  barred 
up  his  access  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  the  peo- 
ple. And  may  I  not  add,  that  the  advantages  of  this 
course  have  been  feU,  during  their  whole  existence  as 
a  church  1  I  cannot  divest  myself  of  the  impression, 
that  their  harmony  in  every  good  undertaking,  and 
especially  the  favor  of  God  and  the  great  work  of  his 
Spirit,  which  have  here  turned  many  from  darkness  to 
light,  are  attributable,  as  a  means,  to  the  careful  ex- 
clusion of  such  causes  as  have  worked  dissension  and 
strife  in  other  churches.  Certainly,  the  numerous  ex- 
hortations of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  to  the  exercise  of 
charity,  and  to  agreement  in  all  things,  have  a  solemn 
claim  upon  our  regard.  His  prayer  is, '  that  all  whom 
the  Father  has  given  him  may  be  one.'  And  an  in- 
spired apostle  has  represented  those  as  *  carnal,'  who 
separated  into  parties,  and  said,  *  I  am  of  Paul,  and  I 
of  ApoUos,  and  1  of  Cephas.'  Should  it  not  then  be 
expected,  that  the  Holy  Ghost  would  make  a  difference 
between  those  w^ho  in  all  lawful  ways  study  the  peace 
of  the  church,  and  those  who  by  such  causes  as  now 
exist  among  us,  utterly  destroy  it  1  '  Now  abideth 
faith,  hope,  charity  :  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  char- 
ity.' If  so,  then  1  am  forced  to  believe,  that  the  worst 
heresy  in  our  communion,  is  our  low  practical  estimate 
of  Charity,  and  the  most  common  sin  against  the  Holy 
Ghost,  is  our  sin  against  Charity.''^ 


312  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER      XIV. 

Visit  to  Boston. — College-Agency — Journey  to  Cravvfordsville. 
— Entrance  on  his  Presidency. — Inauguration. — Agency  in 
Indiana. — Death  ot'a  son. — Severe  sickne.=s. — Pastoral  letter 
to  his  former  charge. — Revival  among  them,  and  planting  of 
a  new  church. —  A  second  Revival. — Visit  to  New-York. — Re- 
turns home. — Revival  in  College. — Call  to  a  church  in  New- 
York. — Exscinding  General  Assembly. — Second  visit  to  New- 
York. — College-edifice  burned  down. 

With  his  characteristic  zeal  and  energy,  xMr.  B.  now- 
devoted  himself  to  the  interests  of  the  enterprise  with 
which  he  had  identified  himself.  In  the  month  of  April, 
he  accompanied  the  agent,  Professor  Hovey,  to  Boston, 
to  solicit  donations  in  behalf  of  the  college.  At  Hart- 
ford, on  his  way,  and  where  he  preached  thrice  on  the 
Sabbath,  he  brought  his  personal  influence  and  reputa- 
tion into  requisition  for  the  endowment  of  the  new  in- 
stitution. 

But  though  separated  from  the  people  of  his  former 
charge,  he  could  not  cease  to  feel  the  liveliest  interest  in 
their  welfare.  To  one  of  them  he  writes  from  Boston, 
April  15//i,  -"I  cannot  be  long  absent  from  you,  with- 
out feeling  a  measure  of  anxiety.  My  prayer  to  God 
is  that  you  may,  as  a  people,  be  guided  and  blessed, 
especially/ at  this  time."  Reference  is  here  made  to 
the  candidate  whom  the  people  were  desirous  to  obtain 
for  the  vacant  pulpit.  Full  of  solicitude  in  this  respect, 
he  made  diligent  inquiries  in  regard  to  his  character,  of 
which  he  expressed  himself  to  Mrs.  B.  and  others  in 


KEV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  313 

terms  of  the  highest  satisfaction.  Accordingly,  a  few 
days  after,  April  21st,  the  congregation  made  out  a  call 
for  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Condit,  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  Long-Meadow,  Mass.,  but  failed  to 
secure  his  acceptance. 

On  another  occasion  he  speaks  as  follows  of  the 
separation  : — "  On  the  first  of  May,  1835,  I  was  sepa- 
rated from  a  united,  prosperous,  and  affectionate  peo- 
ple. They  gave  me  up  with  reluctance,  but  in  a 
Christian  spirit.  From  none  of  them  did  I  receive  any 
reproaches.  On  the  contrary,  they  treated  me  and  my 
family  with  the  greatest  kindness.  Their  liberality 
supplied  us  with  many  things  which  we  needed.  At 
their  request  I  supplied  their  pulpit  as  long  as  I  remained 
in  New- York.  I  was  happy  to  see  them  furnished  with 
a  good  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Hatfield,  before  I  left  the  city. 
The  parting  service  (June  28th)  was  one  of  overpow- 
ering interest.  My  heart  is  still  with  that  dear  people. 
The  Seventh  Presbyterian  church  had  the  beginning 
and  the  best  of  my  strength.  I  bless  God  that  I  had 
the  privilege,  with  great  labor  and  self-denial,  among 
discouragements  and  trials  of  my  faith,  to  gather  it.  I 
love  to  commit  its  interests  altogether  into  the  hands  of 
God,  and  pray  that  it  may  be  engraven  upon  the  palms 
of  his  hands." 

The  summer-season  was  spent  in  unremitting  en- 
deavors to  secure  benefactions  to  the  College.  How  he 
succeeded  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  letter  to 
one  of  his  former  charge,  dated  Aug.  30t/i  : 

"  We  are  expecting  to  take  leave  of  Canaan-Four- 
Corners  to-morrow  morning,  and  set  our  faces  towards 
the  Great  Valley.     It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say,  that 
we  cannot  do  it  without  many  painful  feehngs.     The 
14 


314  MEMOIR    OF 

friends  we  leave  are  very  dear  to  our  hearts.  But,  we 
are  persuaded,  duty  bids  us  go.  Were  it  otherwise,  I 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  take  the  step  which  I  now 
take  with  a  decided  and  cheerful  mind.  I  have  viewed 
it  from  the  beginning  in  the  light  of  a  sacrifice.  My 
family  accord  with  me  in  this  impression,  and  yet  are 
cheerfully  submissive  to  the  divine  appointment. 

"  I  informed  you,  I  believe,  that  our  subscription  in 
New-York  and  Brooklyn  was  filled  up  to  ^20,000,  pre- 
vious to  my  leaving  the  city.  It  however  cost  me  not 
a  little  labor  to  complete  the  sum.  I  was  obliged,  after 
all,  to  leave  the  city  abruptly,  though  I  remained  in  it 
longer  than  I  originally  calculated.  I  hope  that  my 
dear  people,  whom  I  had  proposed  to  visit  but  left  with- 
out doing  it,  will  make  due  allowance  for  the  circum- 
stances in  which  I  was  placed.  It  was  my  wish  to  see 
many  of  them  in  their  own  houses,  whom  I  have  not 
been  permitted  to  see.  I  shall  not  forget  them,  and 
their  kindness  to  me  and  my  family ;  nor  cease,  while 
I  have  breath,  to  pray  for  them." 

In  the  prosecution  of  his  agency,  he  visited,  in  com- 
pany with  Prof  Hovey,  Norwalk,  Hartford,  New-Lon- 
don, and  Norwich,  in  Connecticut,  Boston,  Salem,  and 
Newburyport,  with  some  western  towns,  in  Mass.,  and 
a  few  places  in  New-Hampshire.  In  these  places  the 
subscription  for  the  College  was  enlarged  to  $28,000. 
Everywhere  he  was  receive'!  with  the  greatest  kind- 
ness, and  his  efforts  were  well-seconded. 

In  a  second  letter  to  his  friend  in  New-York,  be  gives 
an  account  of  his  journey  to  the  West,  and  their  recep- 
tion in  their  new  home: — "  We  commenced  our  journey 
on  the  first  day  of  September,  from  Canaan-Four-Cor- 
ners for  the  West.     We  reached  Albany  by  land  the 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  315 

same  day,  in  time  to  take  the  car  in  the  afternoon  for 
Schenectady.  From  the  car,  ourselves  and  goods,  with 
some  trouble  but  without  loss,  were  transferred  to  a 
packet-boat  for  Utica,  which  left  Schenectady  about 
seven  o'clock  P.  M.  We  found  ourselves  among  a 
crowd  of  passengers,  and  with  quite  second-rate  accom- 
modations. Two  of  the  berths  fell,  in  which  our  chil- 
dren had  been  placed,  one  in  the  highest  tier.  Joseph 
and  the  babe  were  precipitated  from  this  height  to  the 
floor ;  but,  as  it  turned  out,  without  much  injury.  We 
fared  better  the  next  stage.  We  reached  Buffalo  on 
Saturday-morning,  where  we  were  received  in  a  most 
hospitable  manner  by  a  friend  and  relation  of  my  own 
name. 

"  According  to  my  plan  of  journeying,  we  spent 
several  days  in  the  vicinity  of  Buffalo.  On  Tuesday  we 
visited  Niagara-falls,  and  were  highly  delighted  with  the 
scene.  Wednesday-evening,  we  took  our  passage  up 
Lake  Erie  to  Cleveland.  The  time  was  not  favorable, 
and  the  boat  was  miserably  arranged  and  managed. 
All  were  sick.  The  children  suffered  so  much,  that  we 
found  it  necessary  to  remain  at  Cleveland  over  the 
Sabbath,  instead  of  pushing  on  to  Atwater  and  spend- 
ing the  Sabbath  with  our  parents. 

"  We  did  not  leave  Cleveland  before  Tuesday,  and 
then  in  a  boat  which  made  such  a  snail-like  progress 
that  we  scarcely  gained  a  mile  and  a  half  an  hour.  We 
were  glad  to  leave  this  boat  on  Wednesday,  and  pursue 
our  course  across  the  country,  by  the  nearest  route  to 
Atwater.  Here  we  remained  two  Sabbaths,  and  then 
laid  our  course  for  Wellsville,  on  the  Ohio.  Two  days' 
ride  brought  us  in  sight  of  the  Ohio.  Our  babe  had 
become  sick,  and  we  were  all  weary  ;  but  the  appear- 


316  MEMOm    OF 

ance  of  a  beautiful  boat,  the  moment  we  reached  the 
river's  bank,  revived  our  spirits.  In  fifteen  minutes  we 
found  ourselves  in  one  of  the  best  cabins,  with  the  best 
accommodations  for  health  or  for  sickness.  Our  way 
was  now^  down,  down,  down  the  Ohio.  The  boat 
brought  up  to  the  wharf  of  Cincinnati,  and  allowed  us 
three  hours  to  look  at  the  city.  We  obtained  a  carriage, 
and  paid  a  visit  to  Dr.  Beecher.  Our  voyage  termi- 
nated at  Madison,  (Indiana,)  on  Saturday  morning, 
about  two  o'clock  A.  M.  We  of  course  remained  in 
Madison  over  the  Sabbath,  and  commenced  our  journey 
into  the  interior  about  noon  on  Monday.  We  proceeded 
with  two  carriages,  one  a  hack,  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  family.  The  w^eather,  during  the  first  half  of 
the  week,  was  very  unfavorable.  It  rained  most  of  the 
time.  The  roads  were  bad,  and  grew  worse  as  we  pro- 
ceeded. But  we  all  reached  Crawfordsville  in  tolerable 
health  the  following  Saturday,  just  as  the  sun  went  be- 
low the  horizon.  The  village  presented  a  cheering 
aspect  as  we  approached  it,  and  we  soon  found  ourselves 
in  the  midst  of  friendly  strangers,  w'ho  had  been  anti- 
cipating our  arrival. 

"  We  are  now  located  in  a  pleasant  little  cottage, 
one  story  high,  and  containing  five  rooms,  besides  a 
pantry.  It  has  a  garden  of  good  size  attached  to  it, 
with  a  convenient  barn.  It  is  well-finished  and  painted, 
but  has  neither  cellar  nor  wood-house.  The  village  is 
scarcely  twelve  years  old — has  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  houses,  of  all  sizes  and  descrip- 
tions. The  inhabitants  are  a  mixture  of  emigrants  from 
many  states  and  countries.  They  are  intelligent  and 
enterprising.  No  western  town  of  the  same  age  con- 
tains  better   society.     It   must   ultimately    become    a 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  317 

charming  residence.  Mrs.  B.  and  the  family  are  pleased 
with  the  place.  I  have  not,  for  one  hour,  doubted  in 
respect  to  my  duty  and  the  wisdom  of  deciding  to  re- 
move hither.  The  colleg-e  is  doino-  well.  It  contains 
sixty  young  men,  a  number  of  whom  have  the  sacred 
ministry  in  view.  A  better  location  for  such  an  institu- 
tion can  nowhere,  in  this  State,  be  found.  The  adjoin- 
ing country  is  very  new — almost  entirely  covered  with 
a  heavy  forest.  Most  of  the  inhabitants  live  in  log- 
cabins,  with  but  few  comforts  and  no  luxuries ;  but  they 
have  got  possession  of  a  rich  soil,  and  will  ultimately 
attain  to  competency,  if  not  to  wealth.  I  have  visited 
several  of  the  little  churches,  and  preached  both  in  their 
log-meeting-houses  and  their  log-cabins.  I  enjoy  these 
excursions  very  much,  and  intend  to  extend  them  to 
other  and  more  distant  parts  of  the  Wabash- Valley. 

"  In  the  midst  of  all  my  occupations  and  cares,  I  do 
not  forget  my  beloved  friends  and  people  in  New-York. 
I  wish  to  be  informed  very  particularly  how  things  pro- 
ceed in  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church.  My  prayers 
are  offered  for  you  and  your  pastor.  I  wish  to  be  re- 
membered by  you  all.  I  hope  one  day  to  visit  you.  I 
am  glad  to  hear  of  the  good  work  of  God  among  you. 
May  the  Savior  increase  it  many  fold." 

Mr.  Baldwin's  reception  was  every  thing  that  he 
could  wish.  He  and  his  family  were  soon  made  com- 
fortable in  their  "  own  hired  house,"  and,  after  the 
necessary  delays  attendant  upon  his  new  circumstances, 
he  entered  upon  the  appropriate  business  of  his  station, 
on  the  ninth  of  November.  On  the  fourth  of  Decem- 
ber, he  gives,  to  an  old  friend  in  New-York,  the  ensuing 
account  of  his  feelings,  condition,  and  prospects : — 

"  I  have  you  and  Mrs. in  my  remembrance,  as 


318  MEMOIR    OF 

very  dear  and  steadfast,  as  well  as  tried  friends.  There 
are  few  individuals  whose  prosperity  lies  nearer  my 
heart.  It  was  with  you  that  I  took  counsel,  when  our 
affairs  were  small,  and  we  literally  bore  the  heat  and 
burden  of  an  arduous  and  doubtful  enterprise.  I  shall 
ever  have  in  affectionate  remembrance  those  who 
struggled  with  us  at  that  time.  ]\Iy  attentions  to  them 
were  subsequently  l§ss ;  and  with  some  of  them  I  dif- 
fered somewhat  in  opinion  in  respect  to  the  best  method 
of  conducting  our  affairs ;  but  I  have  ever  regarded 
them  as  friends,  and  treated  them  as  such.  It  was  the 
multiplication  of  my  labors,  and  not  any  want  of  regard 
for  them,  which  necessarily  diminished  the  amount  of 
my  pastoral  attentions.  I  earnestly  desire  and  pray, 
that  they  may  enjoy  every  measure  of  prosperity,  and 
that  the  loving -kindness  of  our  heavenly  Father,  which 
is  better  than  life,  may  be  theirs.  It  would  not  be  easy 
for  me  to  describe  the  feelings  with  which  I  frequently 
in  mind  advert  to  my  former  relations  to  ray  pastoral 
charge,  the  families  and  individuals  composing  it,  my 
imperfect  labors  and  success,  my  joys  and  sorrows 
among  you.  I  can  scarcely  yet  realize  the  dissolution 
which  has  taken  place  of  the  relation  that  once  existed. 
I  often  call  you  "  my  people,'^  and  feel  that  you  are  so. 
But  enough  of  this. 

"  You  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  we  have  arrived 
in  safety  here,  and  are  at  length  settled  in  our  little 
one-story  cottage.  The  village  is  quite  equal  in  popu- 
lation and  appearance  to  the  description  we  had  of  it 
previous  to  our  removal.  It  contains  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  stores.  Most  of  the  houses,  amounting  perhaps 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty,  are  small,  and  have  fewer  con- 
veniences than  could  be  wished.     Some  are  large,  and 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  319 

in  good  taste.  The  inhabitants  are  from  almost  every 
state  in  the  Union,  and  some  from  abroad.  They  are 
not  wanting  either  in  intelligence  or  enterprise. 

"  The  college  is,  you  know,  in  its  infancy.  It  was 
projected  about  three  years  since,  and  has  now  been  in 
operation  about  two  years.  We  have  three  professors, 
besides  the  president,  engaged  in  its  instruction,  and 
nearly  sixty  students.  A  beautiful  site  for  our  college- 
edifices  has  been  obtained  adjacent  to  the  village.  The 
first  considerable  building  is  now  going  up.  It  is  one 
hundred  and  six  feet  by  forty-eight,  four  stories  above 
a  basement-story,  and  will  contain  forty- eight  study- 
rooms,  and  ninety-six  dormitories.  We  are  already  in 
pressing  need  of  more  accommodations,  and  suppose 
that  the  number  of  our  students  will  increase  in  some 
proportion  to  them. 

"  There  being  at  present  no  class  higher  than  Fresh- 
man, in  college,  I  have  been  devoting  my  attention  to 
the  instruction  of  the  students  in  Greek  and  Latin.  I 
have  also  one  class  in  English  studies.  The  professors 
are  active  and  industrious  men.  Our  funds  do  not  fall 
short  of  the  sum  I  proposed,  while  in  New-York,  to 
make  up.  Thus  far  every  thing  proceeds  with  great 
harmony  and  the  prospect  of  cheering  success.  Be- 
sides my  week-days'  employments,  I  have  a  Bible-lec- 
ture for  the  students  on  Sabbath-mornings,  in  the 
college-building,  at  nine  o'clock,  and  preach  to  them 
at  three  P.  M.  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  village. 
I  am  not  sorry  to  retain  my  preaching  habits. — Mrs.  B. 
and  children  enjoy  their  usual  health.  I  think  the  cli- 
mate will  suit  us  all.  In  short,  we  are  as  well  pleased 
with  the  country  as  we  anticipated,  and  are  much  en- 
couraged with  our  prospects  of  usefulness." 


320  MEMOIR    OF 

A  new  impulse  was  given,  by  his  acceptance  of  the 
Presidency,  to  the  friends  of  the  new  enterprise  in  the 
West.  A  more  ehgible  site  than  the  one  first  selected 
had  been  purchased,  and  the  foundations,  as  intimated 
in  the  above  letter,  of  a  capacious  building  had  been 
laid.  Subscriptions  also  were  obtained  in  Indiana  to 
the  amount  of  $8,000.  The  tide  of  piosperity  which 
flowed  in  upon  the  enterprise  showed  the  high  estiiiate 
in  w^hich  he,  whose  name  and  reputation  gave  it  char- 
acter, was  held  by  the  surrounding  community. 

Of  himself  he  thus  speaks,  Jan.  21st,  1836  i—^^ 
find  myself  in  a  better  state  for  study  than  is  usual.  I 
experience  no  difficulty  in  entering  into  the  instruction 
of  college  with  spirit  and  satisfaction.  At  the  present 
time,  in  consequence  of  the  illness  of  Professor  Mills,  I 
have  a  great  amount  of  labor  devolving  upon  me  3  and 
yet  I  perform  it  without  difficulty. 

"I  think  my  present  station  and  duties  are  likely 
rather  to  favor  a  life  of  devoted  piety,  even  in  compar- 
ison with  the  Christian  ministry.  Never  before  have  I 
more  constantly  felt  my  need  of  direction,  aid,  and 
mercy  fi'om  above.  My  heart's  desire  is,  to  be  faithful 
in  all  things ;  and  to  live  under  a  constant  sense  of  the 
all-seeing  God.  His  service  and  cause  in  the  world, 
unless  my  heart  greatly  deceives  me,  do  I  sincerely  and 
supremely  love." 

To  a  friend  in  New- York  he  writes,  on  the  9th  of 
July,  as  follows : — "  I  am  still  allowed  to  write,  that  we 
enjoy  our  usual  health.  Thus  far,  the  climate  appears 
to  suit  my  constitution  and  that  of  my  family,  as  well 
as  any  other  that  we  have  experienced.  The  season  is 
however  very  pleasant,  and  we  have  not  tried  the 
warmest  part  of  summer.     The  long  summer-vacation 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  321 

in  our  college  commences  on  Wednesday,  13th  instant. 
I  expect  on  that  day  to  be  formally  inaugurated  presi- 
dent of  the  college.  Preparations  have  been  made  ac- 
cordingly. Among  the  exercises,  the  president-elect  is 
expected  to  make  an  address,  which,  if  approved,  will 
be  a  candidate  for  the  press.  Should  any  thing  of  mine 
be  printed,  some  of  my  friends  in  New- York  will  be 
likely  to  see  it.  In  the  mean  time,  you  can  easily 
understand  that  between  preaching  to  (he  students,  at- 
tending several  recitations  daily,  preparing  for  Sabbath- 
morning  lectures,  and  for  the  inauguration,  I  have  had 
enough  to  do.  I  had  certainly  intended  before  now,  to 
have  addressed  a  sort  of  pastoral  letter  to  my  beloved 
people ;  but  I  have  been  unwilling  to  do  it  in  haste, 
and  without  mature  thought.  My  heart  is  still  with 
them.  I  find  nothing  here  that  comes  in  place  of  my 
own  beloved  flock,  though  I  continue  to  be  satisfied  with 
my  removal. 

"  Your  present  of  books  came  safely.  It  was  most 
acceptable  to  us  all.  I  hope  yet  to  see  the  volume-dis- 
tribution taken  up  in  this  region.  The  students  may, 
another  year,  be  able  to  do  something  in  aid  of  such  an 
enterprise  among  us. 

"  The  affairs  of  the  college  continue  to  be  in  a  pros- 
perous train.  We  are  getting  up  the  new  building, 
which  we  find  a  heavy  affair.  There  is  great  difficulty 
in  obtaining  laborers  and  mechanics.  The  work  how- 
ever progresses.  I  think  that  the  community  are  in 
general  friendly  to  the  college.  Myself  and  family  con- 
tinue to  receive  every  kind  attention  from  the  people. 

"  We  had,  on  the  13lh  of  June,  a  little  son  (our 
seventh  child)  given  to  us;— whom  we  call  "  the  young 
President ;"  others,  "  the  young  Hoosier.^^  We  have 
14* 


322  MEMOIR    OF 

as  yet  got  no  name  for  him. — Hope  he  may  live,  and  be- 
come a  good  and  useful  man." 

The  ceremony  of  the  Inauguration  occurred  at  the 
season  of  the  annual  commencement,  the  second  Wed- 
nesday in  July.  In  the  address  which  he  delivered  on 
that  occasion,  and  which  was  shortly  after  published,  he 
discussed  the  subject  of  "  Liberal  Education."  To  the 
question — '  What  is  comprised  in  a  liberal  education  V 
he  answers,  after  glancing  a  moment  at  physical  educa- 
tion, that  "  in  its  application  to  the  mind,  it  comprises 
thedevelopment,  right  direction,  and  permanent  disci- 
pline of  all  its  powers.  To  be  thorough,  it  must  provide 
for  their  harmonious  and  efficient  action  ; — such  a  cul- 
tivation of  the  mind  as  not  only  developes  and  matures 
its  different  faculties  in  their  natural  proportions,  but  im- 
parts to  each  the  greatest  measure  of  efficiency  and 
perfection  ;  and  thus  insures  to  man  that  self-control 
and  use  of  his  powers  which  constitute  alike  his  ad- 
vantage and  his  glory."  He  then  passes,  after  an  elu- 
cidation of  the  above  answer,  to  consider  "  what  par- 
ticular branches  of  study  are  best  adapted  to  this  object.' 
A  vindication  of  the  collegiate  course  of  study  follows, 
particularly  of  the  study  of  the  ancient  classics  ;  and 
the  practical  bearing  of  the  whole  on  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation in  the  West,  in  several  particulars,  and  in  answer 
to  common  objections,  is  fully  and  clearly  shown.  At 
the  close  he  remarks  : — 

"  With  such  views,  fellow-citizens !  as  have  now  been 
presented, /I  consented  to  connect  my  personal  efforts 
and  interests  with  your  rising  college,  [t  is  eminently, 
as  I  was  given  from  the  first  to  understand,  the  college 
of  the  people.  Your  charter  prohibits  sectarianism 
in  its  government  and  instructions  ;  so  that  it  is,  in  fact, 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  323 

an  institution  for  the  whole  people.  With  the  most 
hearty  approbation  of  these  liberal  principles,  1  shall 
devote  myself  to  the  instruction  of  the  youth,  who  are 
destined  to  act  no  secondary  part  in  public  and  in  private 
life.  The  responsibilities  connected  with  the  under- 
taking have  been  felt  to  be  great.  I  sought  them  not, 
nor  do  I  shrink  from  the  difficulties  or  the  trials  which 
the  station  may  involve.  Our  hope  is,  that  no  sacrifices, 
in  this  noble  cause,  will  be  lost,  and  that  we  shall  enjoy 
the  privilege  of  seeing  our  institution  realize  the  most 
sanguine  expectations  of  its  patrons  and  the  friendly 
public. 

"  [t  will  occasion  no  dissatisfaction  to  see  other  stars 
of  science  arise  and  shine  brightly  around  us.  Let  the 
adjacent  regions  of  the  West  light  them  up,  and  pour 
their  pure  and  increasing  splendors  over  the  land.  It 
will  be  our  privilege  to  add  our  light  to  theirs ;  while 
we  shall  labor  hard,  not  to  be  lost  in  their  superior 
brightness,  nor  even  eclipsed  in  the  comparison.  Our 
purpose  is,  never  to  rest  while  Wabash-college  shall 
lack  any  advantages  for  the  student,  which  are  offered 
by  the  highest  class  of  American  colleges.  Nor  let  it 
be  said,  that  we  purpose  rashly.  We  look  to  you  and 
our  fellow-citizens  throughout  this  immense  region,  for 
a  generous  co-operation  in  realizing  it.  We  look  to  the 
liberality,  if  need  be,  of  eastern  friends.  We  look  up 
to  him,  whose  beneficent  providence  has  hitherto  fol- 
low'ed  our  endeavors  with  very  encouraging  success. 
Here,  then,  let  multitudes  of  talented  youth  be  trained 
to  those  principles  of  action  and  enterprise,  which  shall 
render  them  most  useful  members  of  the  civil  commu- 
nity, and  ineffable  blessings  in  the  favored  churches  of 
our  common  Lord.     May  the  foundations,  which  it  is 


324  MEMom  OF 

our  privilege  to  lay,  be  those  on  which  others  also  shall 
build  gloriously  for  science  and  patriotism  and  our  holy 
religion,  till  generations,  now  unborn,  of  this  beautiful 
land,  and  the  grateful  dwellers  in  many  a  distant  coun- 
try, shall  rise  up  and  call  this  institution  blessed." 

In  the  ensuing  vacation,  he  went  forth  on  an  agency 
for  the  college.  Leaving  home  in  the  latter  part  of 
July,  he  proceeded  westerly  to  Perrysville  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  Wabash,  and  then  southerly  on  the  same 
side  of  the  river  to  Terre-Haute,  passing  through 
Eugene  on  the  Vermillion  River,  and  tarrying  over  night 
at  Newport,  where  he  preached  in  the  court-house.  He 
spent  the  last  Sabbath  of  July  in  Clinton,  where  he  ad- 
ministered the  sacrament,  and  preached,  besides  the 
Sabbath,  on  Monday  and  Friday-evenings.  "  On 
Wednesday-morning,"  he  says,  '•  as  T  was  preparing 
for  an  early  ride,  a  fine  looking  master-carpenter  called 
to  see  me,  and  inquire  what  he  should  do  to  be  saved." 
He  had  been  awakened  by  Mr.  B.'s  preaching,  and 
from  having  been  a  most  careless  sinner  became  a  de- 
cided friend  of  Jesus. 

He  tarried  a  week  at  Terre-Haute,  (which  he  de- 
scribes as  resembling,  in  all  respects,  a  New-England 
village,  containing  many  wealthy  and  intelligent  peo- 
ple,) and  then  about  the  tenth  of  August  returned 
homeward.  On  the  14th,  he  attended  a  communion- 
service  in  what  is  called  the  Virginia  settlement,  and 
thence  hastened  to  fulfil  a  similar  appointment  for 
Coal-creek.  He  reached  the  latter  place  on  the  19th, 
and  preached  the  sermon  at  the  installation  of  the 
Rev.  John  Crawford  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  that 
place. 

On  the  following  day  be  was  taken  sick,  and  so  con- 


REV.    DR.    BALDVVLV.  325 

tinued  for  ten  days,  unable  to  return  to  his  family. 
Having  somewhat  recovered,  he  reached  home  just  in 
time  to  witness  the  death  of  his  youngest  child,  who  bore 
his  own  name.  "  I  have  not,"  he  says,  "  during  my 
sickness  and  affliction,  experienced  any  disposition  to 
murmur  against  God.  He  has  appeared  kind  and 
gracious  in  his  dealings  wath  me  and  mine.  '  Bless  the 
Lord,  0  my  soul  1'  " 

He  now  besfan  to  feel  the  effects  of  his  summer-ex- 
posure.  The  bilious  remittent  fever,  so  prevalent  in 
that  wide  region,  and  so  fatal  to  the  new  resident,  soon 
after  seized  upon  him,  laid  him  prostrate,  and  brought 
him  to  the  verge  of  the  grave.  Several  weeks  was  he 
laid  aside,  and,  during  a  part  of  the  time,  "  in  doubt 
whether  restoration  or  death  was  to  be  the  result." 

As  he  became  convalescent,  he  wTote,  October  6tk,  to 
a  friend  in  New-York, — "  1  am  very  likely  to  fall  a 
sacrifice  to  the  labors  and  anxieties  of  my  present  situa- 
tion." His  thoughts  were  naturally  turned  to  a  con- 
sideration of  the  importance  of  making  some  provision 
for  his  family  in  case  of  such  an  event.  "  When  I  left 
New-York,"  he  remarks,  "  I  did  it,  not  rich  from  the 
liberality  of  my  people  and  friends.  All  treated  me 
lovingly— all  did  as  much  as  I  had  reason  to  expect. 
But  having  settled  every  thing,  and  put  the  surplus  of 
my  little  property  into  my  pocket-book  for  use,  I  actu- 
ally found  myself  worth  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars."  Eighteen  years  had  he  faithfully  and  labori- 
ously toiled  in  his  Master's  service,  and  now  he  was  to 
begin  the  world  anew  with  almost  nothing.  He  that 
would  lay  up  treasure  on  the  earth  must  seek  it  in  some 
other  profession  than  the  gospel-ministry.  Seldom  in- 
deed has  the  poor  minister  any  thing  to  bestow  upon 


326  MEMOIR    OF 

his  children  at  his  death,  save  a  father's  '  God  bless  you  P 
Or  if  he  has  aught  else,  it  has  come  to  him  in  some 
other  way  than  in  payment  for  his  arduous  services,  or 
compensation  for  his  many  sacrifices, — such  as  few  are 
called  to  make. 

On  the  22d  of  Oct  oh  er,  he  says, — "It  has  pleased 
the  Lord  to  restore  me  to  a  measure  of  my  former 
health,  but  I  am  still  very  feeble.  Soon  after  I  began 
to  recover,  our  youngest  daughter,  Louisa,  was  taken 
with  the  dysentery.  But  she  too  has  been  spared. 
Mercy  has  been  mingled  with  affliction.  Still  can  I 
say,  I  trust,  that  I  do  not  murmur  against  the  dispensa- 
tions of  God.  I  hope  that  these  trials  will  be  sanctified 
to  me  and  my  family. 

"  This  day  has  been  set  apart  as  a  day  of  humiliation 
and  prayer,  on  account  of  our  afflictions.  God  grant 
that  it  may  not  be  in  vain.  We  have  need  of  more 
grace ;  and,  especially,  of  a  more  practical  sense  of  our 
obligations  to  God.  May  the  blessed  Spirit  communicate 
them  to  us !" 

In  entering  upon  a  new  year,  after  his  complete  re- 
covery of  health,  he  fulfilled  the  design  which  he  had 
intended  to  have  accomplished  sooner,  and  from  which 
he  had  been  diverted  by  sickness.  On  the  2c?  of  Janu- 
ary, 1837,  he  addressed  the  following  letter 

"  TO    THE    SEVENTH   PRESBYTERIAN    CONGREGATION    IN    THE 
CITY   OF    NEW-YORK  : 

"  Very  dear  Brethren  and  Friends  : 

"  You  will  easily  believe,  that  the  commencement  of 
a  new  year  does  not  fail  to  remind  me  of  the  mutual 
congratulations  with  which  Ave  were  accustomed  to 
meet  on  this  social  occasion.    I  have  not  indeed  ceased 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  327 

to  have  you  in  habitual  remembrance ;  and  to  experi- 
ence an  habitual  desire  for  your  prosperity.  Convinced 
as  I  was,  that  the  sphere  of  usefulness  which  offered 
here  was  great  and  urgent  in  its  claims,  I  could  never 
have  been  persuaded  to  occupy  it  at  the  expense  of 
sacrificing  your  interests.  I  never  doubted  but  God 
would  protect  and  enlarge  you ;  and  that  the  friendly 
and  Christian  manner,  in  which  you  gave  me  up  at  the 
call  of  Providence,  would  receive  the  testimony  of  his 
approbation. 

"  The  satisfaction  afforded  me  by  reports  of  your  sub- 
sequent harmony,  increased  by  hopeful  converts,  and 
generous  endeavors  to  multiply  the  means  of  regular  in- 
struction, has  been  very  great.  I  also  praise  God,  and 
give  you  many  thanks,  for  your  kind  remembrance  of 
me  and  mine  before  the  mercy-seat.  We  shall  con- 
tinue, Christian  friends !  to  need  an  interest  in  your 
prayers,  and,  while  we  live,  to  offer  up  our  requests  on 
your  behalf.  There  is  not  a  family  nor  an  individual  of 
you,  formerly  comprised  in  my  charge,  whose  best  in- 
terests we  should  not  love  to  promote. 

"  It  is  this  undiminished  attachment  to  you,  and  not 
any  want  of  confidence  in  your  pastor,  that  now  induces 
me  to  address  to  you  a  few  thoughts,  which  may  be 
found  appropriate  to  your  present  circumstances,  and 
not  unworthy  of  your  serious  attention. 

"  The  summit  of  prosperity  is  not  the  safest  position, 
either  for  individuals  or  bodies  of  men.  It  is  especially 
hazardous  for  religious  communities,  because  of  the 
difficulty  which  in  such  circumstances  is  experienced, 
in  maintaining  the  meekness  and  filial  dependence  of 
the  gospel.  Then  it  is,  that  the  extended  interests  of 
the  church  often  require  the  greatest  wisdom  in  their 


328  MEMOIR    OF 

management,  and  that  Christians  are  commonly  most 
deficient  in  seeking  it  from  above.  We  feel  strong  in 
prosperity;  and  wise,  when  our  measures  have  been 
divinely  succeeded.  Hence  the  reaction,  sometimes 
observed  to  follow  extensive  revivals  of  religion,  and  the 
dreary  night  which  settles  down  upon  the  favored 
churches. 

"  Dear  brethren  !  I  would  hope  that  this  calamity  is 
not  reserved  for  you.  The  blessing  you  have  experi- 
enced has  been  great  and  singular ;  it  has  excited  the 
wonder  of  many  and  called  forth  thanksgivings  to 
God  ; — but  its  full  and  most  happy  influence  cannot  be 
realized,  except  through  your  persevering  zeal  and 
harmony  in  every  good  work.  By  no  other  means  can 
it  be  made  to  tell  most  extensively  upon  the  interests 
of  dying  men. 

"In  reviewing  (as  I  often  do)  the  history  of  the  Se- 
venth Presbyterian  church,  I  am  particularly  impressed 
with  one  fact.  Amidst  all  our  difficulties  and  trials,  there 
ever  remained  with  us  the  spirit  of  union.  The  mem- 
bers were  drawn  to  each  other  by  that  bond  of  the  new 
covenant,  which,  by  uniting  them  to  a  common  Father, 
made  them  brethren.  Their  prayers  were  not  hindered. 
Whatever  was  attempted  had  the  best  chance  of  suc- 
ceeding, because  urged  on  with  united  hands.  I  am  con- 
strained to  regard  this  blessed  union  as  eminently  the 
foundation  of  our  success,  and  specially  pleasing  to  Him 
w^ho  inculcated  so  pathetically  upon  his  disciples  '  the 
new  commandment.' 

"I  dwell  on  this  topic  of  union  not  only  for  its  in- 
trinsic beauty  and  indispensable  influence  in  extending 
the  reign  of  the  gospel,  but  from  a  painful  impression, 
that  obstacles  to  its  maintenance  have  been  of  late  un- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  329 

necessarily  multiplied.  There  is  a  measure  of  fanaticism 
abroad  among  evangelical  Christians,  or,  at  least,  (for 
I  would  prefer  a  middle  term,)  an  extravagance  of  cal- 
culation which  borders  on  it.  Reform  is  its  watchword ; 
but  mark  the  application.  It  is  twofold.  One  class 
of  zealous  brethren  are  in  haste  to  perfect  all  things  in 
religion  and  morals  and  our  political  system,  by  inno- 
vating rashly  on  established  forms  and  principles.  '  Let 
us  overturn  and  overturn,  and  make  ail  things  new,'  is 
the  import  of  their  measures  and  their  speculations. 
But  it  is  quite  certain  that  no  change  in  the  forms  of 
visible  Christianity,  nor  in  the  terms  of  communion,  nor 
in  the  mode  of  supporting  Christian  ordinances  and 
maintaining  church-discipline,  will  realize  the  needed 
reformation.  Professors  will  continue  to  err,  and  the 
impenitent  to  despise  their  mercies,  in  despite  of  all 
human  arrangements  and  every  influence  except  that 
of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

"Another  class  of  brethren,  equally  sincere  and 
strenuous  in  their  way,  are  intent  upon  exactly  the 
opposite  course.  '  Let  us  return,'  they  say,  *  to  the 
strictness  of  ancient  discipline.  We  will  interpret  our 
standards  of  doctrine  in  the  strictest  manner,  and  toler- 
ate no  deviation  from  them.  All  shall  be  made  to 
speak  precisely  one  and  the  same  language.'  These 
brethren  again  are  employed  in  attempting  impossibi- 
lities. Both  plans  are  Utopian.  The  evil  of  both  is 
their  'practical  irdoUrance,  no  less  than  their  tendency 
to  subvert  the  present  order  of  the  churches,  which  ex- 
perience has  proved  of  incalculable  benefit.  Those 
who  seek  to  innovate,  as  well  as  those  who  discoun- 
tenance the  most  harmless  changes,  are  busy  in  enlist- 
ing partisans,  and  drawing  the  greatest  number  to  their 


330  MEMOIR    OF 

side.  Meanwhile,  truly  catholic  Christians  will  expe- 
rience great  reluctance  to  both  extremes  ;  and,  in  many 
instances,  prefer  bein^  pressed  between  the  upper  and 
the  nether  millstone.  The  same  is  true  of  individual 
churches. 

*'  I  doubt  not,  Christian  friends  I  but  you  have  sub- 
stantially these  views,  and  are  united  in  the  desire  to 
avoid  both  extremes.  It  is  the  only  method  of  certainly 
escaping  needless  and  destructive  controversy.  I  term 
this  controversy  needless,  because  I  am  persuaded  there 
is  no  very  considerable  departure,  in  the  Presbyterian 
communion,  from  the  great  principles  of  our  doctrinal 
standards ;  and  destructive,  because  it  alienates  minis- 
ters and  churches  from  each  other,  and  from  their  work 
of  converting  men.  Need  1  add,  that  it  grieves  away 
the  Spirit  of  grace  ?  Observe  the  settled  pastors,  who 
are  known  to  be  most  actively  engaged  in  it;  mark 
the  churches  subjected  to  the  ministrations  of  such 
brethren.  Are  they  the  successful  laborers  and  the 
fruitful  spots  in  our  Master's  vineyard  1  Do  they  not 
rather  exhibit  the  blighted  results  of  misdirected  en- 
deavors, and  sufficiently  expose,  if  the  mists  of  preju- 
dice did  not  blind  even  good  men,  the  infatuation  of 
these  contentions  ?  In  truth,  my  brethren  !  the  worst 
and  most  injurious  heresy  in  our  communion,  is  want 
of  brotherly  love.  No  other  is  so  offensive  to  God. 
So  entirely  am  I  persuaded  of  this  fact,  that  a  revela- 
tion from  heaven  could  not  add  to  my  assurance. 

''  I  am  aware  that  these  views  will  be  regarded  by 
some  as  superficial,  if  not  pusillanimous;  but  I  appeal 
to  you  for  the  fact,  that,  during  more  than  seventeen 
years'  ministry,  I  acted  in  strict  accordance  w^th  them. 
Without  abating  one  iota  from  the  claims  of  inspired 


REV.  DR.    BALDWIN.  331 

truth,  I  labored  uniformly  to  promote  peace  among 
ourselves,  and  good  will  to  all  the  brethren.  Never 
have  I  ceased  to  rejoice,  that  I  was  enabled  to  pursue 
this  course.  I  bless  God  that  it  was  ever  my  aim  to 
preach  the  truth,  without  reference  to  the  controversies 
existing  in  our  denomination ;  and  most  of  all,  that  it 
w^as  received  by  you  in  the  spirit  of  love.  The  result 
is  known  to  you  all.  It  was  not  an  ordinary  result, 
but  such  as  may  safely  be  permitted  to  indicate  to  you 
the  W'ay  of  future  success  and  prosperity.  Christian 
brethren !  love  one  another.  Extend  your  candor  and 
your  charity  to  all  who  are  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  our 
common  Lord. 

"  It  afforded  me  no  small  satisfaction  to  learn,  that 
the  recent  accessions  to  the  congregation  had  been  so 
numerous  as  to  render  the  sanctuary  too  strait  for  you. 
The  pleasure  was  increased  by  information  of  your 
measures  to  remedy  this  inconvenience.  The  proper 
measure  w^as,  doubtless,  to  divide  and  build  another 
temple  for  God.  You  have  entered  upon  it,  as  I  am 
told,  with  entire  unanimity.  In  this  enterprise,  you  will 
be  an  example  to  older  and  more  wealthy  congrega- 
tions. How  desirable  that  it  should  not  only  be  splendid 
from  its  success,  but  remarkable  for  the  spirit  of  libe- 
rality and  benevolent  co-operation  w^hich  it  shall  de- 
velope  and  cherish.  These  sister-churches  should  be 
regarded  as  comprising  one  great  interest,  rendered 
inseparable  by  a  common  sympathy  and  constant  re- 
ciprocation of  kind  offices.  It  were  unnecessary  to 
remind  you  of  the  immense  work  which  remains  to  be 
done  in  your  vicinity.  You  have  contemplated  it,  and 
begun  to  act  upon  enlarged  views  of  your  responsibility. 
My  prayer  is,  that  you  may  act  up  to  the  greatness  and 


332  MEMOIR   OF 

solemn  character  of  the  eternal  interests  involved  in 
this  undertaking. 

"  But  while  I  am  adverting  to  the  claims  of  others 
upon  you  for  the  means  of  instruction,  do  I  not  address 
some,  who  enjoy  without  improving  these  means  to 
their  own  salvation  ?  You  admit,  dear  friends  !  the 
value  and  your  personal  need  of  religion.  You  do  it 
publicly,  by  frequenting  the  house  of  God,  and  contri- 
buting your  part  to  sustain  Christian  institutions.  Your 
judgment  and  conscience  have  already  declared  for 
Christ.  Why  then  does  your  heart  alone  maintain  the 
war  against  him,  and,  at  the  hazard  of  your  soul,  reject 
his  proffered  mercy  ? 

"  I  will  not  conceal  my  anxiety  for  those  of  you,  in 
particular,  to  whom  I  ministered  many  years  in  vain. 
With  the  hope  of  finding  your  names,  have  I  examined 
the  lists  that  were  sent  me  of  hopeful  converts  and 
recent  professors.  I  have  done  it  with  anxious  desires, 
that  have  not  been  realized :  '  the  harvest  is  past,  the 
summer  is  ended,  and  you  are  not  saved.'  Do  I  not 
utter  a  truth,  already  written  in  your  consciences,  and 
in  the  book  of  God  ?  Shall  it  prove  an  indelible 
record  1  Must  the  last  great  day  present  this  sad  re- 
sult of  all  your  opportunities  ?  Be  assured,  ray  dear 
friends  !  I  would  not  now  recall  one  sentence  of  my 
public  or  private  exhortations  and  warnings  to  escape 
from  the  wrath  to  come.  I  should  condemn  myself  as 
unfaithful  to  your  happiness,  had  they  been  less  fre- 
quent or  less  urgently  pressed.  Once  again,  I  entreat 
you  to  make  a  serious  business  of  personal  religion, — 
to  do  it  now,  while  mercy  lingers,  and  there  is  hope  of 
securing  the  favor  of  God.  '  I  pray  you  in  Christ's 
stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God.' 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  333 

"  And  now,  beloved  friends  !  I  desire  that  you  may 
abound  more  and  more  in  the  fruits  of  righteousness. 
May  the  God  of  peace  abide  with  you  and  your  be- 
loved Pastor.  And  may  we  all  at  last  know  the  joy 
of  meeting  in  those  blessed  mansions,  where  sin  and 
painful  separations  and  disappointments  shall  have  no 
place. 

"  With  the  most  affectionate  salutations,  I  remain 
yours,  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  love  and  friendship. 

"  Elihu  W.  Baldwin." 

Four  days  afterwards,  he  addressed  to  a  member  of 
the  session  of  the  new  church,  a  letter  of  a  similar 
character: — "  I  experience,"  he  writes,  "very  special 
interest  in  the  success  of  your  new  enterprise.  It  is  indeed 
a  great  undertaking.  I  think  you  have  made  a  promis- 
ing beginning.  Your  location  is  good.  The  colony 
is  large,  and  will  have  the  advantage  of  commencing 
with  a  numerous  Sabbath-school.  Every  member 
should  consider  his  responsibilities  greatly  augmented 
by  his  connection  with  this  enterprise.  Were  I  en- 
listed in  it  as  your  pastor,  I  should  desire — 

"  1.  To  have  the  mind  of  every  individual  engaged 
with  me,  solemnly  impressed  with  the  magnitude  of  the 
undertaking.  You  should  go  to  it  with  large  views  of. 
the  results  before  you,  and  a  deep  and  habitual  sense  of 
your  need  of  divine  assistance.  We  accomplish  no- 
thing for  Christ,  without  his  good  Spirit. 

"  2.  To  preserve  myself  and  the  new  church  as  free 
as  possible  from  all  controversy,  which  is  not  insepar- 
able from  preaching  and  living  the  truth.  I  would  not 
wish  my  people  known  as  a  "  new-measure"  or  "  old- 
measure"  congregation ;   as   "  new-school"  or  "  old- 


334  MEMOIR    OF 

school," — "pro-slavery"  or  "anti-slavery,"  &c.  I 
would  hang  out  no  such  flag  to  warn  whole  classes  of 
impenitent  men  from  associating  with  us,  in  sustain- 
ing and  hearing  the  gospel. 

"  3.  To  cultivate  a  friendly  and  generous  spirit  towards 
the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church  :  I  do  not  approve 
of  strictly  collegiate  charges;  but  the  relations  of  that 
church  to  you  are  such  as  call  for  particular  union  and 
co-operation.  I  do  hope,  that  no  root  of  bitterness 
will  be  allowed  to  spring  up  between  you. 

"  4.  To  see  the  female  members  associated  in  a 
weekly  prayer-meeting  by  themselves.  No  church 
will  have  much  spirituality  without  such  a  meeting. 
Pious  mothers  have  more  influence  than  any  other 
class  of  professors,  in  giving  tone  to  the  piety  of  the 
church. 

"  5.  To  bring  the  entire  neighborhood,  in  which  you 
propose  to  locate,  under  religious  culture.  This  may 
be  done  by  weekly  lectures,  prayer-meetings,  visiting 
for  Sabbath-schools,  distributing  tracts,  pastoral  visita- 
tion, &c. 

"  6.  To  have  the  church  keep  days  of  prayer,  with 
special  reference  to  their  enterprise.  This  was  done 
with  great  effect  and  most  blessed  results,  in  the  first 
years  of  the  Seventh  church. 

"  7.  To  accomplish  much  with  but  little  noise. 
Churches  sometimes  become  vain  of  their  success,  and 
grieve  away  the  Holy  Spirit.  This  may  be  one  reason 
why  the  oldest  churches  are  not  the  most  frequently 
favored  wij^h  revivals  of  religion,  especially  in  our 
large  cities. 

"  8.  To  have  my  people  from  the  beginning,  manifest 
a  practical  interest  in  the  benevolent  efforts  of  the  age. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  335 

If  distinguished,  I  would  have  them  know^n  as  a  prayer- 
ful, generous,  and  working  church :  —  the  w^orkino- 
churches,  if  they  avoid  unnecessary  peculiarities  in 
their  organization,  terms  of  communion,  and  discipline, 
will  get  possession  of  the  city. 

"  These  few  suggestions  comprise  nothing  very  in- 
structive or  rare.  Gathering  churches  is  a  plain, 
straight-forward  business :  it  demands  prayer,  and  hard 
work,  and  union  of  heart. 

"  I  wish  you  to  give  me  early  information  of  your 
movements  and  prospects.  Salute  your  pastor  in  my 
name.  I  hope  he  wall  be  abundantly  blessed  in  his 
labors. — I  am  in  great  want  of  news  from  our  friends 
in  your  vicinity.  My  family  are  favored  with  health, 
and  continue  to  have  a  good  prospect  of  being  useful 
in  our  present  location.  We  do  not  forget  our  friends 
in  New-York.     Our  heart  is  still  with  you." 

It  may  be  proper,  in  this  connection,  to  state,  that, 
in  consequence  of  a  powerful  outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
upon  the  people  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  former  charge, 
which  continued  from  July  1835  for  nearly  a  year, 
and  which  resulted  in  an  addition  of  more  than  300 
members  to  the  church,  and  in  a  continually-overflow- 
ing congregation,  it  was  determined  to  undertake  a 
similar  enterprise  in  an  adjacent  neighborhood.  Ac- 
cordingly 74  individuals,  including  one  half  of  the 
eldership,  were,  with  three  other  individuals,  organized 
on  the  12th  of  Augnst,  1836,  into  a  Christian  church, 
by  the  name  of  the  Madison-st.  Presbyterian  church. 
The  Rev.  James  W.  McLane  was  installed  as  their 
Pastor  on  the  fourth  of  the  following  November. 

A  second  revival,  scarcely  inferior  in  power  to  the 
one  just-mentioned,  followed,  commencing  with  January 


336  MBMOIR    OF 

1837,  to  which  allusion  is  made  in  the  letter  which 
follows : — "  March  29. — My  very  dear  friend ! — Your 
favor  of  the  16th  inst.  reached  me  a  few  hours  since. 
I  had  waited  with  much  anxiety  for  some  communi- 
cation from  New- York,  which  should  inform  me  how 
things  were  going  on  in  your  section  of  the  city.  The 
announcement  of  a  letter  from  you  was  peculiarly 
pleasant.  I  cannot  bless  God  sufficiently  for  its  con- 
tents. I  do  rejoice  in  all  the  success  w^hich  is  granted 
to  Brother  Hatfield's  labors.  My  desire  and  prayer  is, 
that  he  may  retain  the  confidence  of  the  congregation, 
and  prove  ten  times  more  successful  than  it  was  my 
privilege  to  be.  It  gave  me  real  satisfaction  to  learn 
that  the  congregation  found  themselves  able  to  raise 
his  salary,  and  did  it  without  a  division.  I  saw  in  this 
circumstance  additional  proof  of  the  growth  and  in- 
creasing liberality  of  his  people.  May  the  Holy  Spirit 
descend  upon  them  more  and  more,  till  they  all  shall 
know  God. 

"  Nor  am  I  less  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of 
the  new  enterprise.  Your  account  of  brother  McLane 
affords  me  great  satisfaction.  We  need  ministers,  in 
these  days  of  contention  among  brethren,  and  of  bold 
innovations,  who  love  the  truth,  without  partyism  or  a 
sectarian  spirit.  We  need  men  of  deep  and  humble 
piety.  I  rejoice  very  much  in  your  union.  Union  is 
strength.  Christian  union  in  advancing  the  cause  of 
Christ,  takes  hold  of  the  strength  of  God.  While  you 
continue  to  be  of  one  heart,  you  will  continue  to 
prosper.  I  have  always  found  it  so,  in  every  good 
enterprise  which  has  come  under  my  observation. 

"  I  could  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  name  a  time 
when  I  may  probably  visit  New-York ;  but  I  cannot 


REV.   DR.    BALDWIN.  337 

at  present  do  it.  I  have  in  most  affectionate  remem- 
brance every  one  of  the  friends  mentioned  in  your 
letter  as  desiring  to  be  remembered  to  me.   Tell  brother 

H ,  that  I  can  never  forget,  while  I  live,  the  grace 

of  God  which  was  manifest  in  him  and  his  dear  family. 
I  pray  that  every  blessing  may  rest  upon  him  and  them. 
It  gives  me  pleasure  to  learn  the  names  of  those  who  have 
been  elected  elders  in  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church. 
They  are  good  men,  and  I  trust  will  feel  the  weight  of 
their  responsibilities  to  be  faithful  in  their  place.  In- 
deed, I  am  delighted,  I  am  overwhelmed,  when  I  think 
of  the  great  mercy  of  God  to  the  people,  once  my 
charge.  I  only  fear  lest  they  should  be  lifted  up  more 
than  is  meet  by  their  prosperity,  and  become  strong  in 
their  success.  I  pray  God  that  such  may  not  be  the 
result. 

"  I  am  just  now  recovering  from  a  severe  though  not 
dangerous  bilious  attack.  It  was  accompanied  with 
very  little  fever,  but  took  me  off  from  my  official  duties 
for  several  weeks.  We  are  about  our  work.  The 
number  of  students  in  the  college,  the  term  now  closing, 
has  been  unusually  large.  The  measure  of  improve- 
ment observable  in  the  students,  is  extremely  gratifying 
to  us.  I  wish  I  could  tell  you  of  a  revival  of  religion 
among  them.  I  can  say,  that  a  large  proportion  of  the 
students  are  pious,  and  have  the  holy  ministry  in  view. 
I  trust  you  will  remember  us  still  in  your  prayers." 

Again  on  the  1st  of  April  he  adds  the  follow^ing  : — 
"  The  present  week  closes  the  second  term  of  our  col- 
lege-year. We  have  just  had  an  exhibition  by  the 
two  societies,  which  comprise  the  students  in  college. 
It  has  afforded  happy  proof  of  the  progress  of  the 
students  in  useful  knowledge,  and  will,  no  doubt,  in- 
15 


338  MEMOIR    OF 

crease  the  popularity  of  the  institution.  We  are  hard 
at  work,  to  promote  the  interests  of  sound  and  Chris- 
tian education  in  this  immense  region ;  and  even  now, 
do  not  appear  to  labor  in  vain.  But  what  might  we 
not  accomplish  with  means  adequate  to  the  demands 
of  the  country?  Where  are  the  rich  and  generous 
and  patriotic  individuals,  who  would  extend  their  in- 
fluence over  millions  of  minds,  and  send  it  down  to 
distant  generations  ?  A  well-endowed,  Christian  col- 
lege at  the  West,  would  more  certainly  realize  their 
wishes,  than  any  other  institution. 

"  I  rejoice  greatly  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Tract 
Society.  Something  will,  I  think,  be  done  for  you 
here.  The  volume-enterprise  strikes  me  as  a  most 
happy  part  of  your  operations;  and  one  which  the 
necessities  of  the  West  particularly  demand.  I  Jike 
your  selection,  and  the  style  in  which  the  volumes  are 
executed.  Thousands  of  families  in  this  great  valley 
would  purchase  them,  were  they  presented  at  their 
doors." 

On  the  day  following  the  next  commencement,  in 
July,  he  left  home  on  a  visit  to  New-York,  for  the  double 
purpose  of  visiting  the  people  of  his  first  love,  and 
promoting  the  interests  of  the  college,  which  were 
likely  to  suffer  detriment  by  the  remarkable  reverses  of 
the  times.  In  the  months  of  March  and  April,  some 
of  the  most  extensive  traders  and  manufacturers,  to- 
gether with  hundreds  of  smaller  houses,  proved  bank- 
rupt ;  and  in  the  course  of  May  nearly  all  the  banks 
in  the  Unitetl  States  suspended  specie  payments.  Of 
the  subscriptions,  which  had  been  obtained  in  the  East 
for  the  college,  about  one-half  had  been  paid ;  the 
remainder  was  to  be  received  in  annual  instalments. 


REV.    DU.    BALDWIN.  339 

The  collection  of  these  was  rendered  difficult  by  the 
failure,  perhaps,  of  some,  and  the  high  rate  of  domes- 
tic exchange.  It  was  necessary  that  one,  whose  in- 
fluence was  so  great  and  happy  in  and  about  New- 
York,  should  visit  the  city,  and  make  the  college  secure. 

The  first  Sabbath  after  leaving  home  was  passed  at 
Cincinnati,  and  the  second  in  Harrisburg,  Penn.  He 
arrived  in  New-York  at  noon  on  Tuesday,  the  25th  of 
July.  His  account  of  the  manner  in  which  he  was 
received  is  characteristic,  and  shows,  too,  how  much 
he  had  won  the  hearts  of  his  former  acquaintances: — 
"  After  a  hasty  dinner,"  he  writes  to  Mrs.  B.,  "  I  made 
my  way  into  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  where  I  had 
letters  to  deliver.  About  six  o'clock  I  made  my  ap- 
pearance at  the  Tract-House,  occasioning  about  as 
much  wonder  as  you  would  expect.     I  need  not  say 

that  my  reception  was  cordial  enough.    M began, 

the  first  moment  he  saw  me,  his  apology  for  not  writing. 
He  had  in  fact  written  a  letter  too  big  almost  for 
brother  Jonathan's  mail,  which  therefore  had  not  got 
on.  His  house  and  every  thing  were  at  my  service, — 
only  he  wanted  to  know  when  we  should  start  for 

Cony  Island  !     Brother  A smiled  and  wept.     He 

wished  me  to  go  directly  home  with  him — and  so  I 
did.  We  had  tea  in  due  time.  The  family  made  the 
kindest  inquiries  after  you  and  the  children.  Having 
drank  a  cup  of  black  tea,  I  made  my  first  call  at  JVlr. 

O 's.     L met  me  at  the  door,  and  I  soon  had 

the  family  all  around  me. 

"  It  was  the  regular  night  for  prayer-meeting  in 
both  the  churches.  I  accordingly  slipped  over  in  the 
dusk  of  evening,  to  look  into  ray  old  session-room. 
Not  a  soul  of  the  congregation  who  would  be  present 


340  MEMOIR    OF 

knew  of  my  arrival.  No  one  detected  my  approach. 
I  reached  the  door  of  the  session-room,  and  looked  in 
upon  the  assembly.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight :  the  room 
was  clean,  well  lighted,  and  well  filled.  Brother  Hat- 
field was  standing  before  the  pulpit,  and  earnestly  en- 
gaged in  addressing  them.  I  entered  silently,  passed 
along  the  back  of  the  seats,  and  was  on  the  point  of 
sitting  down,  when  he  recognized  me,  and  immediately 
arrested  his  discourse.  The  color  came  up  into  his 
face,  as  he  said  to  the  congregation — "  I  have  the 
pleasure  of  introducing  to  you  your  former  pastor,  who 
is  now  in  the  room."  The  sensation  produced,  I  could 
not  easily  describe.  Some  who  were  present  say,  that 
there  was  not  a  dry  eye  in  the  congregation.  I  am 
sure  my  eyes  were  not  dry.  I  said  but  little  to  them 
more  than  that  I  was  in  every  respect  unprepared,  and 
in  truth,  unable  to  address  them ;  and  had  come  to  the 
lecture-room  thus  unexpectedly,  to  gain  a  proof  of  their 
practical  estimate  of  prayer-meetings,  and  present  them 
my  friendly  salutation.  Our  meeting  after  service  was 
most  painfully  pleasant.  A  hundred  kind  inquiries 
were  made  after  you  and  our  dear  children.  The  old 
members  took  my  hand  and  wept. 

"  I  lectured  on  Friday  evening  for  the  new  congre- 
gation in  Madison-street,  in  prospect  of  their  sacra- 
mental occasion.  There  again  I  met  with  a  multitude 
of  former  members.  Sabbath-morning  I  preached  in 
the  old  church,  to  a  most  crowded  assembly; — a 
great  number  came  up  to  the  pulpit  to  salute  me  after 
service." 

Nothing  apparently  was  wanting  to  his  enjoyment  in 
these  scenes  of  overpowering  interest  but  the  presence 
of  the  loved  ones  at  home.     How  much  he  thought  of 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  341 

them,  and  how  strong  his  domestic  feelings  were,  may 
be  seen  by  what  he  writes  to  Mrs.  B.  on  the  5th  of 
August: — "My  dearest  friend! — I  am  almost  afraid 
that  you  will  undervalue  my  hasty  and  ill- written  epis- 
tles ;  and  think  I  had  done  better  to  have  sent  you  fewer 
and  more  careful  ones.  I  just  hint  my  apprehensions, 
to  let  it  be  understood,  that  I  do  not  in  fact  regard  the 
most  careful  and  polished  composition  at  all  too  good 
for  my  best  beloved,  but  only  want  the  requisite  time. 
You  and  our  dear  images  are  almost  constantly  in 
my  thoughts  ;  and  removed  from  my  heart,  never. 

*'  Your  letter  of  Monday-morning  by  Mr.  Crawford 
was  most  grateful  to  my  feelings.  1  almost  resolved,  on 
receiving  it,  that  I  would  never  again  dissuade  you  from 
writing  at  the  last  moment  to  any  friend.  But  then 
again,  I  thought,  she  has  but  one  such  friend  in  the 
world.  Am  I  not  right  ? — and  then  the  inference  will 
not  hold.     Others  have  not  the  same  claim. 

"  You  will  not  be  sorry  to  learn,  that  I  am  enjoying 
the  best  health.  I  find  it  necessary,  however,  to  take 
things  easy,  and  not  expose  myself  too  much  to  the 
action  of  the  sun,  reflected  from  so  many  brick-walls. 
I  find  many  friends  who  give  me  the  most  hearty  wel- 
come to  the  best  they  have.  I  spent  the  last  night  at 
Mr.  C 's; — family  are  all  well — made  many  in- 
quiries after  you  and  the  children.     'This  room,'  said 

Mr.  C ,  as  he  conducted  me  to  my  bed-chamber, 

'  I  wish  you  to  consider  as  your  own  while  you  stay  in 
the  city.' 

"  My  present  calculation  is  to  remain  in  the  city,  till 
the  last  Monday  of  this  month.  It  is  made  to  meet  the 
wishes  of  the  Colony-church  in  Madison-street,  by  of- 


342  MEMOIR    OF 

ficiating  at  the  dedication  of  their  house  of  worship. 
Br.  Hatfield  is  about  leaving  the  city  for  three  weeks, 
and  I  am  earnestly  requested  to  take  charge  of  my  old 
people  in  the  mean  time.  So  you  see  that  I  have  a 
plenty  of  work  on  hand  ;  as  %vell  as  some  prospect  of 
visiting." 

At  the  close  of  the  period  of  which  he  speaks  above, 
he  says  in  another  letter,  Aug.  27, — "  I  have  just  fin- 
ished the  work  allotted  me  for  the  last  Sabbath  that  I 
expect  to  spend  in  New-York.  The  morning  I  gave,  as 
you  will  learn  from  the  New-York  Observer,  to  Br. 
McLane's  congregation  in  Madison  street.  We  broke 
bread,  in  the  afternoon,  in  my  old  church ;  and  this 
evening  I  have  preached  a  farewell  in  the  same  place. 
The  choir  concluded  with — "  When  shall  we  meet 
again,"  sung  in  the  best  style.  I  cannot  describe  to 
you  the  manifestations  of  friendly  feelings  to  me  and 
my  absent  family,  which  have  everywhere  met  me. 

"  There  has  been  but  one  circumstance,  which  has 
subtracted  from  the  pleasure  of  my  visit ;  that  is,  your 
absence,  and  the  absence  of  our  older  children.  I  can- 
not enjoy  such  attentions  alone.  They  are  like  your 
flowers  and  moonlight,  unless  they  can  be  shared  with 
you.  In  spite  of  them  all,  I  think  of  "  home,  sw^eet 
home."  Homeward  myself  and  mother  hope  to  set 
our  faces,  on  Tuesday.  If  favored  by  Providence,  we 
expect  to  reach  Pittsburg  the  first  Sabbath,  and 
Indianapolis,  perhaps  Crawfordsville,  the  Sabbath 
after." 

In  a  letter  to  his  successor  in  the  pastoral  charge,  he 
describes  under  date  of  Oct.  6,  his  return  to  Indiana. — 
"  I  reached  Philadelphia  wdth  my  aged  parent  on  Tues- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  343 

day,  in  time  to  secure  our  passage  to  Pittsburg  the  fol- 
lowino*  raornino:.  We  found  ourselves  in  that  western 
Birmingham  on  Saturday.  We  rested  there  during  the 
Sabbath.  On  Monday  we  resumed  our  journey,  and 
arrived,  after  a  pleasant  passage,  at  Cincinnati,  Wed- 
nesday-evening. The  weather  had  become  unpleasant 
and  the  roads  bad.  We  however  moved  on  by  stage 
to  Indianapolis,  which  we  reached  the  following  Fri- 
day, but  not  in  time  to  take  the  stage  for  Crawfords- 
ville.  There  we  suffered  almost  a  week's  detention,  in 
consequence  of  the  bad  state  of  the  roads  and  a  want 
of  suitable  conveyances.  It  would  have  proved  a  more 
painful  disappointment,  had  we  not  found  ourselves 
among  friends ;  who  not  only  afforded  us  entertainment, 
but  gave  us  plenty  of  work.  It  was  a  communion- 
season  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Indianapolis.  Br. 
McK had  failed  of  obtaining  help  for  the  ser- 
vices, and  wished  me  to  fill  the  breach.  I  did  so  as 
well  as  the  circumstances  of  our  case  would  permit  ; 
and  had  the  privilege  of  preaching  to  the  good  people 
of  Indianapolis  once  a  day,  during  the  six  days  we  re- 
mained with  them. 

''  Br.  McK ,  you  will  recollect,  is  an  old-school 

man,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly's  inquisito- 
rial committee.  But  it  is  only  of  such  heretics,  as  he 
heard  reported  in  the  Convention  and  sees  described  in 
the  Presbyterian,  that  he  is  afraid.  Like  many  others, 
he  is  the  dupe  of  Common  Fame.  But  for  the  thou- 
sand rumors  afloat,  he  would  live  peaceably  with  all 
his  brethren  and  let  controversy  alone. 

"  After  this  detention,  we  had  a  prosperous  journey 
home,  and,  I  need  not  add,  met  with  a  welcome  recep- 
tion.    I  found  the  family  well,  and  the  affairs  of  the 


344  MEMOIR    OF 

college  in  a  promising  state.  Our  large  edifice  is  now 
inclosed.  The  college-term  has  commenced  with  an 
encouraging  number  of  students.  We  are  pressed 
however  for  funds,  and  may  soon  be  obliged  to  dismiss 
our  mechanics  for  want  of  them. 

"  I  cannot  describe  to  you  the  heart-felt  satisfaction 
which  my  visit  to  my  former  charge  has  afforded  me. 
The  results  that  I  witnessed  while  among  them,  of  your 
labors  and  of  the  blessing  of  God,  more  than  equalled 
my  expectation.  I  rejoice  with  you  and  them.  I  was 
specially  gratified  with  the  Christian  harmony  and 
spirit  of  co-operation,  which  distinguish  the  two  con- 
gregations and  their  pastors.  "Let  brotherly  love 
continue."  I  desire  and  pray,  that  it  may  continue.  I 
did  exceedingly  regret  that  I  was  obliged  to  disappoint 
many  of  my  acquaintance  of  the  visits  they  requested, 
and  which  I  expected  to  make  them.  The  reason  you 
know.  My  time  was  much  more  occupied  with  other 
important  matters,  than  I  had  anticipated  on  my  first 
arrival. 

"  If  I  neglected  some,  I  do  not  forget  them,  nor 
cease  to  pray  for  them.  I  only  wish  that  Mrs.  B. 
could  have  shared  my  satisfaction;  and  have  seen 
with  her  eyes,  what  I  was  privileged  to  see.  She  de- 
sires to  be  affectionately  remembered  to  you  and  to 
sister  H.  I  found  on  my  arrival  that  the  books,  sent 
to  the  Society  of  Inquiry  in  college  by  our  female 
friends,  had  not  arrived.  They  are  understood  to  be  on 
the  way ;  and  when  received,  will  be  duly  acknow- 
ledged by  the  society. 

"  My  visit  has  served  to  increase  my  anxiety  to  hear 
from  you  and  the  congregation.  My  heart's  desire  and 
prayer,  is,  that  you  and  your  dear  wife  may  find  your 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  345 

labors  of  love  among  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  con- 
gregation most  pleasant  and  fruitful.  May  God  give 
ycu  manj  precious  revivals. 

Yours,  in  the  best  of  bonds." 

To  an  elder  of  the  new  church,  he  wrote  on  the 
28th  Oct.  as  follows  : — "  The  interest  that  I  experience 
in  the  prosperity  of  my  former  charge,  makes  me  anx- 
ious to  know  all  about  your  affairs.  Every  incident 
connected  with  the  character  and  success  of  your  two 
congregations,  and  of  the  individual  families  composing 
them,  is  valuable  to  me. 

"  My  visit  to  my  friends  in  New-York,  particularly  to 
the  two  beloved  churches,  was  one  of  unmixed  satis- 
faction. I  rejoiced  more  than  I  ever  had  anticipated  in 
their  prosperity.  The  only  subject  of  regret  is  my  own 
deficiency.  I  could  not  visit  as  many,  nor  any  as  7nuch 
as  I  intended.  My  friends  must  forgive  this  wrong,  and 
impute  it  to  other  causes  than  indifference.  My  return 
occupied  more  time  than  I  had  expected.  The  college- 
edifice  had  progressed  handsomely  during  my  absence, 
and  we  have  now  the  prospect  of  occupying  a  part  of 
it  the  next  session.  It  is  a  fine  building,  and  not  in- 
ferior to  the  best  of  the  Yale  college-halls.  Our  number 
of  students  is  on  the  increase,  notwithstanding  the  hard- 
ness of  the  times.  Many  of  them  are  poor,  and  are 
obliged  to  work  hard  for  an  education.  We  all  expe- 
rience great  inconveniences  from  the  pecuniary  pres- 
sure, but  do  not  despair  of  ultimate  success. 

"  The  demon  of  contention  is  abroad  in  our  churches. 
The  question  of  sustaining  the  General  Assembly  in  their 
late  acts  of  excision,  makes  havoc  of  brotherly  love 
and  Christian  influence.  When  will  the  church  get  rid 
of  the  spirit  of  persecution  1" 
15* 


346  MEMOIR    OF 

In  December  he  visited  Indianapolis,  the  capital  of 
the  state,  and  delivered  on  the  27th,  an  "  Address  on 
the  encouragement  of  emulation  in  the  Education  of 
Youth,  before  the  Education  Convention  of  Indiana." 
It  was  "  published  by  order  of  the  senate"  of  the 
state.  It  has  been  truly  remarked,  by  one  of  his  asso- 
ciates in  college,  that  "  every  public  effort  of  the  pre- 
sident seemed  to  give  character  to  the  institution,  and 
his  management  of  its  internal  affairs  was  of  that  pa- 
ternal and  conciliatory  kind  which  secured  for  him  and 
the  college  the  lasting  affection  of  all  who  fell  under 
his  influence." 

In  the  course  of  the  following  month  some  symp- 
toms of  an  incipient  revival  became  apparent  in  the 
town  of  Crawfordsville,  which,  in  the  months  of  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  resulted  in  a  general  work  of  grace 
in  the  college  as  well  as  in  the  town.  "  For  some 
time  past,"  he  remarks,  "  one  or  two  months  at  least, 
there  has  been  more  than  ordinary  seriousness  evinced 
in  the  attention  of  the  people  of  this  village  to  Chris- 
tian instruction.  The  students  connected  with  college 
have  also  manifested  a  like  interest.  Last  week  a 
series  of  evening-meetings  were  commenced  in  the 
Presbyterian  church.  God  has  blessed  the  means  em- 
ployed. Many  of  the  students  have  experienced,  as 
w^e  hope,  the  grace  of  God  in  bringing  them  near  to 
him.  The  work  is  also  interesting  and  increasing  in 
the  village.  For  such  mercy,  I  desire  to  give  thanks 
to  God,  and  I  pray  that  it  may  extend.  My  own  fa- 
mily do  not  seem  to  be  passed  by,  but  I  have  great 
anxiety  respecting  some  of  them.  The  Lord  have 
mercy." 

The  revival  resulted  in  the  hopeful  conversion  of 


KEV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  347 

about  thirty  students,  and  of  many  in  the  village.  Mr. 
Baldwin's  eldest  daughter  was  of  the  number  who,  in 
consequence,  became  connected  with  the  church.  His 
only  son  also  was  tenderly  affected,  and  expressed  a  hope. 

Early  in  February,  he  received  a  very  urgent  call 
from  the  Manhattan-Island  church  in  the  city  ot  New- 
York  to  become  their  pastor.  This  church  was  located 
in  what  was  at  first  a  considerable  part  of  his  former 
field  of  labor.  Large  inducements  were  held  out,  by 
many  of  his  former  friends,  in  hopes  of  drawing  him 
once  more  to  dwell  among  them.  The  people  of  his 
former  charge  were  perfectly  cordial  in  the  movement^ 
believing  that  it  would  be  greatly  to  the  building  up 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

As  his  manner  was,  he  at  once  laid  himself  open  to 
conviction,  and  sought  to  know  the  path  of  duty.  To 
one  of  his  correspondents  he  w^rites,  Feb,  8th. — "  The 
call  that  I  have  received  from  Manhattan-Island,  came 
most  unexpectedly.  You  can  hardly  conceive  how 
powerfully  it  appeals  to  my  feelings.  The  enterprise 
before  the  little  church  is  entirely  such  as  1  would 
select.  I  have  lost  nothing  of  my  partiality  for  the 
pastor's  office. 

"  Br.  Hatfield  writes  me  very  kindly  on  the  subject. 
But  all  that  I  have  yet  received  has  been  from  friends, 
who  may  be  denominated  parties  in  the  case.  I  have 
need  of  more  information.  Will  you  not  send  me  what 
you  know  respecting  the  practical  interest,  which  this 
movement  on  Manhattan-Island  appears  to  excite. 
Will  any  of  the  leading  and  influential  famihes  put 
their  hands  to  it,  in  case  of  my  acceptance  ?  Have 
their  incipient  arrangements  been  made,  with  encou- 
raging prospects  ? 


348  MEMOIR  or 

"  I  do  not  doubt  the  kind  feelings  of  our  friends  in 
New-York.     In  this  case  I  want  their  sober  judgment, 

"  Does  the  object  presented  in  the  call,  connected 
with  the  circumstances  of  my  former  connection  with 
the  people  on  Manhattan-Island,  and  ray  advantages 
for  gathering  a  congregation  there,  appear  to  justify 
my  return,  in  the  eyes  of  judicious  and  pious  laymen  ? 
Write  soon  and  let  me  know  your  mind." 

If  at  the  first  he  was  in  doubt  as  to  his  duty  in  the 
case,  his  doubts  were  soon  removed.  The  manifest 
evidence  of  his  usefulness  in  the  college,  in  connection 
with  the  precious  revival  of  religion  in  which  his  labors 
were  so  much  blessed,  soon  put  at  rest  all  thoughts  of 
change.  The  call  was  accordingly  declined,  but  not 
without  a  struggle,  as  appears  from  the  following  letter 
to  a  friend  : — 

«  Jpril  2Sth,  1838.— You  have  ere  this  been  in- 
formed of  the  answer  given  to  my  call  from  Manhattan- 
Island.  I  need  not  assure  you  of  the  pain  it  occasioned 
me  to  decline  it.  The  field  is  just  what  I  should  covet, 
while  I  experience  a  sympathy  with  the  congregation, 
which  no  stranger  to  them  can  understand  ;  but  in  this, 
as  in  most  other  movements  of  much  consequence,  I 
have  been  obliged  to  follow  w'hat  seemed  to  be  duty, 
in  opposition  to  inclination  and  apparent  interest.  A 
good  man  has  but  one  question  to  settle.  I  am  not, 
however  dissatisfied  here,  but  find  it  a  severe  trial,  as  I 
expected,  to  give  up  the  pastoral  oflSce. 

"  The  revival  in  our  college  has  given  a  new  im- 
pulse to  OTlr  eflforts  for  the  moral  improvement  of  this 
new  country.  It  has  been  a  precious  visitation  of  God. 
The  subjects  of  it  appear  extremely  well.  No  disorder 
or  extravagance  of  any  sort  accompanied  the  work- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  349 

There  is  still  some  measure  of  the  divine  influence  lin- 
gering among  us ;  and  vv^hich  we  are  not  without  hopes 
may  increase.  I  wish  my  friends  in  New- York  to  be 
reminded  that  the  ridges  of  the  Alleghanies  will  not 
intercept  the  prevalency  of  their  prayers  for  us.  There 
is  a  way  of  reaching  distant  friends  and  blessing  them 
with  heavenly  blessings,  even  while  that  distance  re- 
mains undiminished." 

To  one  who  had  addressed  to  him  a  dissuasive  on  the 
subject  of  the  call,  he  replied  more  at  length  : — "  I 
thank  you  kindly  for  your  timely  and  faithful  letter. 
The  result  of  the  call  you  will  have  heard  before  now. 
I  considered  myself  bound  to  give  it  the  serious  consi- 
deration I  did,  and  have  no  doubt  that  I  did  right  in 
dechning  it. 

"  I  have  never  intimated  to  any  one,  that  I  expe- 
rience any  disappointment  or  dissatisfaction  in  my  pre- 
sent situation.  I  have  not  been  dissatisfied.  The  pros- 
pects of  the  college  are  as  favorable  as  could  have 
been  expected  in  the  embarrassed  state  of  the  country. 
We  are  in  great  want  of  funds  to  complete  our  college- 
edifice  and  for  other  purposes ;  but  we  hope,  neverthe- 
less, to  sustain  ourselves  in  some  way.  The  favor  of 
the  institution  with  the  people  is  increasing  perhaps 
fast  enough.  We  might  have  150  students  within  a 
year  or  two,  if  the  needful  accommodations  were  pro- 
vided. About  2500  dollars  will  complete  our  building. 
More  than  12,000  dollars  have  already  been  expended 
in  its  construction. 

"  My  personal  reception  here  has  been  sufficiently 
friendly  and  flattering.  I  have  never  sought  popularity, 
and,  to  tell  the  truth,  never  supposed  I  had  much  claim 
to  it.     My  desire  is  to  do  my  duty  in  every  situation ; 


350  BIEMOIR   OF 

and  the  impression  of  my  services  here  as  President, 
(I  say  it  to  a  friend,)  has  appeared  to  realize  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  friends  of  the  college.  I  state  these 
facts  to  show,  that  there  is  absolutely  no  foundation  for 
the  report  in  New-York,  that  myself  or  family  are  dis- 
satisfied. 

"  But  while  I  say  this,  I  confess  to  you,  I  feel,  as 
when  I  left  New-York,  a  great  reluctance  to  give  up 
the  pastoral  office.  Were  it  consistent  with  my  dtdj/y 
I  would  be  a  pastor  still.  Nothing  but  an  impression 
of  duty  ever  separated  me  from  my  charge  in  New- 
York.  I  have  accustomed  myself,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
from  the  time  of  my  conversion  to  Christ,  to  follow 
duty,  without  much  reference  to  my  personal  interest 
or  preferences.     I  dare  not  do  otherwise. 

"  The  Wabash-college  is  better  located  for  exerting 
an  extensive  influence  in  favor  of  sound  learning,  com- 
mon-school education,  and  hberal  Christian  principles, 
than  any  other  institution  in  this  state.  The  country 
about  us  is  destined,  within  a  generation,  to  contain  a 
very  dense  population.  We  occupy  a  point  where 
several  extensive  lines  of  communication,  laying  open 
to  us  the  west,  and  north,  and  south  to  an  indefinite 
extent,  will  meet.  The  town  is  healthy.  Give  us  the 
funds,  and  we  are  not  afraid  of  competition.  My  asso- 
ciates in  the  business  of  instruction,  are  very  indus- 
trious, and  are  becoming  able  professors.  The  people 
see  it,  and  are  sending  us  their  sons  in  full  proportion 
to  their  means.  Give  us  then,  I  say,  the  means,  (a  few 
thousand  dcllars  will  do  it,)  and  we  have  a  fair  pros- 
pect of  giving  character  to  a  great  country  and  a  nu- 
merous people. 

"  You  are  aware  that  this  state  has  received  a  majo- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  351 

rity  of  its  inhabitants  from  Pennsylvania,  Kentucky, 
and  western  Virginia.  Numbers  have  come  from 
southern  Ohio,  who  were  originally  from  the  south. 
The  consequence  is,  we  have  a  population,  differing  in 
many  respects  from  that  of  New-England  or  New-York. 
They  are  southern  in  their  notions,  without  however 
being  friends  to  slavery ;  and  extensively  jealous  of 
eastern  influence.  The  class  of  Presbyterians  we  have 
to  do  with,  are,  three  individuals  out  of  four,  old-school. 
Of  such  materials  at  least  the  young  churches  were 
originally  composed.  Maay  of  the  pastors,  half  in  the 
state,  perhaps  more  even,  are  on  the  other  side.  In 
our  Presbytery,  there  are  I  think  but  two  pastors,  who 
would  go  with  the  General  Assembly ;  and  yet,  until 
the  last  meeting,  we  were  uncertain  where  the  majority 
of  the  Presbytery  would  be  found  in  relation  to  the 
recent  measures. 

"  These  facts  will  show  you,  that  the  future  charac- 
ters of  the  churches  here,  will  very  much  depend  on 
the  cast  of  their  ministers.  A  w^ell-educated,  liberal- 
minded  ministry,  may  now  impress  their  character  on 
them.  Our  college  has  taken  its  ground  in  that 
respect. 

"  For  myself,  I  have  seen  nothing  here  to  reconcile 
me  to  high-church  principles.  I  am  becoming  weary 
of  the  organized  aristocracy  of  Presbyterianism.  Ad- 
ministered by  unaspiring  brethren  and  in  love,  our 
Book  is  just  the  thing ;  in  other  hands,  it  is  liable  to 
become  oppressive.  I  cannot  conscientiously  labor  to 
build  up  the  high  Presbyterianism  of  our  church.  It 
does  not  take  with  the  mass  of  our  citizens.  They 
shrink  from  a  connection  with  such  narrowness  and 
intolerance.     It  is  in  this  view  of  our  institution,  that  I 


352  MEMOIR    OF 

think  it  may  do  much  for  this  valley.  It  may  send 
forth  an  influence,  which  shall  aid  the  reformation  of 
our  church,  required  to  adapt  it  more  to  the  country 
and  the  spirit  of  the  age. 

*'  I  have  in  this  calculation  no  respect  to  party-spirit. 
From  radicalism  I  wish  ever  to  be  delivered,  and  no 
less,  from  the  ultraism  which  now  oppresses  our  com- 
munion." 

In  the  movements  which  led  to  the  disruption  of  "  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  the  United  States,"  in  May, 
1838,  he  felt  the  liveliest  interest.  Where  principles 
so  vital  were  concerned,  he  could  not  be  neutral. 
Not  a  moment  did  he  hesitate  in  the  avow^al  of  his 
adherence  to  constitutional  principles  of  church -order. 
In  a  letter  to  a  ministering  brother,  at  Cincinnati,  he 
expresses  under  date  of  June  27th,  his  unqualified  ab- 
horrence of  the  exscinding  acts  of  the  Assembly  of 
1837,  and  of  the  new  basis  proposed  in  1838  : — 

"  The  first  commencement  in  the  Wabash-college 
will  be  on  the  1 1th  of  July ;  and  our  Presbytery  has  been 
called  to  meet  in  this  village  on  the  following  day,  at 
the  special  request  of  their  Commissioners  to  the  Ge- 
neral Assembly.  The  simple  question,  submitted  to  us, 
will  be,  that  of  approving  their  course.  If  we  succeed 
in  carrying  a  vote  to  approve,  the  subject  will  proba- 
bly be  suffered  to  rest  there,  till  we  know  the  result 
of  some  civil  processes. 

"It  is  not,  however,  a  question  with  any  of  the 
ministerial  brethren  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  whether 
we  shall  approve  of  the  doings  of  the  Reform-Assem- 
blies of  1837  and  1838.  We  cannot  sec  it  our  duty 
to  countenance  revolution  and  Lynch- law.  W^e  are 
united  in  the  opinion,  that  submission  to  unconstitutional 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  353 

government,  would  be  treason  against  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

"The  crisis  that  we  have  reached,  doubtless  requires 
of  us  all,  great  watchfulness  over  our  spirits,  and  much 
circumspection  in  the  adoption  of  measures.  At  the 
same  time,  there  is  need  of  prompt  and  efficient  action. 
I  see  no  ground  to  hope  for  conciliation.  The  Reform- 
ers are  manifestly  intent  on  one  thing,  and  that  is,  ex- 
cision. If  they  spare  for  the  present  any  individuals 
in  our  communion,  that  are  friendly  to  voluntary  asso- 
ciations, and  to  co-operating  with  other  Christian  de- 
nominations in  propagating  a  common  Christianity;  if 
they  suffer  any  to  draw  breath  in  our  church,  who  do 
not  pledge  themselves  to  draw  in  the  sectarian  yoke, 
— it  is  only  for  the  sake  of  doing  the  work  of  excision 
at  a  more  convenient  time,  and  more  in  detail. 

"  One  thing,  demanded  of  us  at  this  time,  is,  that  we 
call  things  by  their  right  names.  Let  us  hear  no  more 
about  old-school  and  new-school,  new-measure-men  and 
old-measure-men.  The  only  distinctive  appellations, 
applied  to  the  two  sides,  should  be,  Constitutionalists 
and  Reformers,  Constitutional  Assembly,  and  Reforin 
Assembly.  Let  us  use  no  others  in  our  conversations 
and  discussions.  I  hope  that  brethren,  w^ho  think  with 
us,  will  be  united  in  using  the  phraseology  which  de- 
signates the  nature  of  the  controversy,  and  will  sink  all 
other  differences  in  the  conflict  for  constitutional  liber- 
ty ;  and  that  the  separation  which  is  impending,  may 
evidently,  to  all  Christians,  and  to  the  world,  hang 
upon  this  great  principle. 

"  After  all  that  has  been  published  on  the  subject,  we 
still  need  a  plain  and  popular  statement  of  the  agitated 
question.     Give  us  a  simple  narrative  of  the  ground 


354  MEMOIR  OF 

on  which  the  two  Synods  united  in  forming  the  Pres- 
byterian church  after  the  great  schism, — of  the  cove- 
nants, proposed  on  our  part,  and  made  with  the  Gene- 
ral Association  of  Connecticut,  and  the  semi-Congre- 
gational churches  within  our  bounds, — and  of  the  party 
measures  by  which  these  arrangements  have  been  set 
aside.  Mark  the  alterations  that  have  been  made  in  our 
policy,  and  the  innovations  upon  the  spirit  and  princi- 
ples of  our  constitution,  to  carry  out  these  measures. 
The  whole  ought  to  be  comprised  in  a  cheap  tract,  of 
eight  or  twelve  pages,  and  circulated  throughout  the 
great  valley.  Could  not  such  a  statement  be  prepared, 
and  sent  forth  in  the  form  of  an  address  to  your  churches, 
and  under  the  sanction  of  your  Presbytery  ?  But  I 
have  written  more  than  enough  on  this  subject.  Our 
eyes  must  be  upward,  my  brother !  The  Lord  guide 
and  speed  you  in  this  matter." 

In  the  Presbytery  with  which  he  was  connected,  the 
matter  was  viewed  in  a  similar  light.  On  the  results  of 
their  meeting  in  July,  he  makes  the  following  observa- 
tions : — 

"  On  the  12th  inst.,the  Presbytery  of  Crawfordsville 
convened  in  this  village,  and  after  a  warm,  but  friend- 
ly discussion,  decided,  twenty-four  to  seven,  to  consider 
the  Constitutional  Assembly,  which  met  last  May,  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  the  true 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States.  We  are  thus  thrown  into  two  denomi- 
nations.^ The  evil  is  great  j  but  it  does  not  follow  that 
the  good  effects  will  not  be  greater.     This  separation, 

"  1,  Will  deprive  the  community  of  all  occasion  for 
political  jealousy  of  Presbyterians.  They  are  now  too 
much  divided  among  themselves. 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  355 

"  2.  Will  put  both  sides  on  their  guard  against  the 
evils  to  which  they  are  liable.  In  both  bodies,  the 
moderate  men  are  a  great  majority.  Their  influence 
will  be  more  felt,  when  the  causes,  which  led  to  ex- 
treme measures,  have  passed  away. 

"3.  Will  augment  the  catholic  spirit  of  Presbyte- 
rians towards  their  brethren  of  other  denominations. 

"4.  Will  relieve  their  benevolent  energies  and  re- 
sources from  much  practical  embarrassment.  Both 
sides  will  be  left  to  operate  in  their  own  way.  Those 
who  have  expended  their  efforts  in  correcting  their 
brethren,  may  now  go  to  work,  and  will  have  to  do  it. 

"  5.  Will  lead  to  a  more  extensive  and  deeper  feeling 
of  dependence  upon  God. 

"  6.  Will  probably  result  in  more  extensive  and  suc- 
cessful efforts  for  the  diffusion  of  the  gospel.  In  order 
to  realize  these  benefits,  we  must 

"(1.)  Avoid  cherishing  towards  each  other  a  hostile 
spirit.  W^e  are  brethren  still.  The  difference  is  cir- 
cumstantial, and  does  not  pertain  to  essentials,  &c. 

"  (2.)  Avoid  giving  circulation  to  unfriendly  and  in- 
jurious reports  on  either  side. 

"  (3.)  Pray,  and  as  we  have  opportunity,  labor  for 
each  other's  prosperity." 

On  the  second  Wednesday  in  July,  the  first  two  of 
the  graduates  of  the  college  finished  their  course  of 
collegiate  study,  and  received  their  first  degree.  On 
this  occasion,  too,  Mr.  Baldwin  delivered  his  first  Bac- 
calaureate. His  subject  was  "  Eminence  ;"  how  to  be 
attained  and  secured.  The  "  Indiana  Record,"  published 
in  Crawfordsville,  of  July  14,  1838,  observed, — "  It  was 
a  masterly  piece  of  composition,  replete  with  sound 
and  wholesome  advice ;  and   we   cannot  but  indulge 


356  MEMOIR   OF 

the  hope,  that  the  young  gentlemen  will  profit  by  it,  and 
become  living  examples  of  the  truth,  that  "  eminence" 
cannot  be  attained,  without  an  undeviating  regard  for 
integrity  and  strict  moral  principles." 

The  interests  of  the  college  again  called  him  east- 
ward, and  the  next  month  finds  him  at  New- York, 
revisiting  the  scenes  of  his  former  labors,  and  once 
more  enjoying  the  society  of  long-tried  and  highly 
valued  friends.  On  the  12th  of  August,  he  preached 
again  in  his  old  church,  and,  as  on  his  previous  visit,  to 
an  overflowing  congregation.  During  the  same  week 
he  visited  New-Haven,  on  the  occasion  of  the  com- 
mencement at  Yale.  From  New-Haven,  he  addressed 
his  eldest  daughter  in  the  following  manner : — ^^Aug.l6. 
— I  reached  here  the  day  before  yesterday,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Hatfield,  and  had  the  pleasure  yesterday  to 
attend  the  commencement  of  Yale  College.  It  was  of 
course  somewhat  superior  to  ours.  The  Governor  of 
the  State,  and  many  other  great  personages,  such  as 
Presidents  of  Colleges,  Professors,  &c.,  were  present. 
I  took  my  place  in  the  procession,  in  company  with  the 
Episcopal  President  of  W.  College,  and  took  my 
seat  on  the  stage,  in  front  of  the  immense  audience,  as- 
sembled on  the  occasion.  I  took  tea  with  President  D. 
and  the  Faculty  of  the  College,  last  evening,  and  vis- 
ited Professor  S.  after  tea.  In  short,  I  was  received 
with  much  kind  respect  by  my  old  teachers  and  friends. 

"  But  the  honors,  what  are  they  ?  More  worthless, 
my  daughter !  than,  I  am  sure,  any  young  person  will 
believe.  To  be  conspicuous  in  this  republican  country, 
may  be  conducive  to  our  usefulness ;  it  seldom  fails,  I 
think,  to  subject  a  person  either  to  envy  or  contempt. 
Most  men  are  sure  to  take  revenge,  in  some  way,  of 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  357 

those  who  rise  above  them.  We  must  aim  to  render 
ourselves  useful  to  others,  and  necessary  to  their  hap- 
piness, if  we  w^ould  attach  them  to  us.  We  must  do 
good  unto  all,  and  then  we  shall  not  fail  of  having 
friends. 

"I  leave  this  city  in  a  few  hours  for  New-London, 
and  then  back  by  the  first  boat  to  New-York.  I  hope 
to  collect  some  money  for  the  college  in  New-London. 
My  prospects  in  New- York  are  not  more  discouraging 
than  I  anticipated.  Business  is  becoming  more  active. 
The  city  has  assumed  a  cheerful  aspect — but  our  friends 
who  have  failed,  will  find  it  hard  to  recover  their  pros- 
perity. 

"  Many  of  our  old  friends  express  a  great  desire  to 
receive  a  visit  from  you.  They  make  many  inquiries. 
Some  of  them  wish  to  know,  whether  you  are  not  very 
decided  in  your  attachment  to  the  blessed  Redeemer. 
I  fear  that  you  will  find  the  world  a  great  snare.  Do 
not,  my  dear  child !  give  yourself  up  to  ambition  in 
your  studies.  Keep  a  higher  motive  before  you,  than 
the  personal  advantage  of  excelling.  I  wish  you  to  be 
a  diligent  and  thorough  scholar ;  and  this  you  may  be 
in  perfect  consistency  with  a  devoted  heavenly  mind." 

Again  to  Mrs.  B.  he  writes,  Sept.  5, —  **  I  am  mak- 
ing some  progress  in  collecting  for  the  college.  My 
friends  advise  me  to  remain  some  weeks  longer,  with 
the  impression  that  I  shall  do  better  as  the  prospects 
of  business  improve.  I  am  quite  tired  of  absence,  but 
think  their  opinion  is  worth  attending  to,  and  shall  be 
governed  by  it. 

"  I  expect  to  spend  to-morrow,  and  the  next  day,  in 
pushing  my  collections,  and  then  set  off  for  a  visit  to 
New-London.     I  may  go  further  east,  perhaps  to  Port- 


358  MEMOIR    OF 

land,  Me.  In  the  mean  time,  Brother  Hovey  shall 
hear  from  me. 

"  I  have  preached  several  times.  One  Sabbath  in 
Brooklyn, — two  Sabbaths  to  my  own  people,  &c.  Ap- 
plications come  in  from  all  quarters — even  from  the 
Dutch.  But  I  say  to  all  inquirers,  *  I  am  fixed  at  the 
west,  and  my  family  are  contented.' " 

After  a  short  excursion  to  New-England,  whence  he 
returned  on  the  22(],  he  writes  again  on  the  26th,  as 
follows  : 

"  I  am  now  doing  up  my  work  in  earnest  to  direct 
my  steps  westward.  My  arrangements  are  to  leave 
for  Buffalo  the  next  week,  and  make  the  most  of  my 
time  and  opportunities  for  the  college  on  the  way ;  I 
expect  to  try  several  gentlemen  in  this  city  for  dona- 
tions. I  hope  the  Professors  w'ill  be  able  to  sustain  the 
pressure  of  care  and  labors  which  devolves  upon  them, 
till  I  can  come  to  their  relief  I  am  very  unwilling- 
ly absent,  but  with  good  calculation,  as  I  think,  I  hope 
the  result  will  be,  with  good  success. 

"  I  made  a  very  considerable  journey  with  Brother 
Hurlbut,  all,  as  he  would  generously  have  it,  at  his  own 
expense.  We  took  Northampton  in  our  way,  and  went 
to  the  top  of  Mount  Holyoke.  He  promised  to  write 
you  some  account  of  the  tour ;  I  could  easily  fill  a  let- 
ter with  incidents,  but  shall  reserve  them  till  distance 
may  not  cool  our  thoughts.  Brother  Hurlbut  and  his 
excellent  companion  express  in  every  way  the  most 
sincere  regards  for  us,  and  a  benevolent  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  our  family.  Major  Williams  and  lady  re- 
member you  with  much  affection. 

"  My  health  has  continued  to  be  good  since  I  wrote. 
My  spirits  are  fine,  except  now  and  then,  when  I  think 


REV.    l)K.    BALDWIN.  359 

of  the  distance  between  us;  many  rivers  and  mountains, 
I  say  to  myself,  to  traverse — so  many  dangers  ;  but  I 
think  of  Him  who  keeps  us  all,  and  to  whom  I  com- 
mend my  loved  ones.  Let  us  trust  in  him  with  unwa- 
vering confidence ;  the  result  will  not  disappoint  our 
expectations. 

"  The  children  may  be  assured  that  Pa  remembers 
them  all.  He  hopes  that  they  love  one  another. 
Frances  must  be  very  good  to  little  Louisa.  It  will 
give  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  that  she  is  so.  And 
Joseph  must  be  kind  to  both,  and  contribute  as  much 
as  possible  to  their  happiness.  I  hope  they  will  all  be 
attentive  to  the  wishes  of  their  Grandma.  The  friends 
who  inquire  after  the  welfare  of  mother  are  very  nu- 
merous, especially  among  our  former  people. 

"  The  good  friends  with  whom  you  associate,  not  ex- 
cepting the  good  ladies,  may  know  that  I  am  not  a 
little  desirous  of  being  soon  restored  to  the  friendly 
society  of  our  pleasant  town.  Present  them  all  with 
my  salutation  and  my  best  wishes.  Absence  does  not 
alienate  me  from  the  interests  I  have  espoused  in  the 
Great  Valley.  Love  to  mother  and  to  the  children,  and 
love  twice-told  to  her  who  takes  such  sweet  revenge 
for  long  intervals  of  coming  letters." 

At  the  time  of  writing  the  above  letter  he  had  no 
thought  of  the  new  trial  to  which  the  friends  of  the 
college  at  home  had  already  been  called,  and  which 
was  about  to  bring  upon  himself  so  many  new  and 
heavy  burdens.  The  knowledge  of  it  was  conveyed  to 
him  in  the  following  letter  from  Professor  Hovey  : 

"  Craufordsville,  Sept,  24,  1838. 
"  To  Sidney  E.  Morse,  Esq.  : 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  address  you  at  this  time,  supposing 


360  MEMOIR    OF 

that  President  Baldwin  hasl  eft  or  will  have  left  New- 
York  before  this  will  reach  there.  When  I  last  wrote 
him,  only  a  week  or  ten  days  since,  our  college  was  in 
a  prosperous  situation,  and  all  our  prospects  flattering ; 
but,  in  the  wise  permission  of  an  inscrutable  Provi- 
dence, a  most  sad  reverse  has  taken  place.  About  two 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  inst.,  our  peaceful 
village  was  aroused  by  the  unusual  cry  of  fire ;  and  in 
less  than  half  an  hour  from  that  time,  the  roof  and 
fourth  story  of  our  beautiful  college-edifice  was  one 
sublime  and  terrific  flame.  In  a  few^  moments  more, 
the  fire  extended  through  the  whole  of  the  unfinished 
part  of  the  building,  which  embraced  the  north  division, 
one-third  of  the  whole,  and  through  the  half  of  the  mid- 
dle division. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  the  first  impression 
was,  that  nothing  could  be  done  to  save  the  building ; 
but  seeing  the  progress  of  the  fire  to  be  very  slow  in 
the  division  finished,  every  effort  \vas  bent  to  that  di- 
vision in  the  south  end,  and  the  fire  was  arrested  with 
the  destruction  of  only  the  third  and  fourth  stories.  The 
middle  and  north  divisions  are  burnt  to  the  ground. 
The  library  and  philosophical  apparatus  were  on  the 
fourth  story,  in  connection  with  the  chapel  and  lecture 
rooms,  and  are  all  consumed,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  books  let  out  and  in  the  hands  of  the  professors 
and  students,  and  of  the  apparatus,  the  electrical  ma- 
chine, telescope  and  compound  microscope.  All  else 
is  gone.  . 

"  The  walls  of  the  building  are  standing,  and  so  httle 
injured,  that  in  the  opinion  of  competent  judges,  they 
will  not  need  to  be  taken  down,  except  a  part  of  the 
smaller  partition  walls ;  and  eight  rooms  in  the  south 


REV.    DU.    BALDWIN.  361 

division  are  nearly  entire.  During  the  recent  vacation 
we  had  made  every  effort  to  have  two  divisions  com- 
pleted, and  had  accomplished  it  with  the  exception  of 
running  the  stairs  in  the  middle  division.  The  floors 
were  laid,  and  a  large  part  of  the  carpentry  was  done, 
in  the  north  division  ;  so  that  the  loss  is  almost  of  the 
entire  building  with  the  exception  of  the  foundation, 
the  walls  and  that  portion  rescued  from  the  flames.  I 
am  happy  to  state  that  the  students  rooming  in  tbe 
building,  to  the  number  of  eighteen  or  twenty,  all  es- 
caped in  safety ;  a  number  however  with  the  loss  of 
their  furniture,  books  and  clothing.  The  pecuniary 
loss  of  the  institution  is  estimated  as  follows,  viz, : 

In  the  building,  at  least     -     -     -     $10,000 
Library  (college  and  text  books)      -     3,500 
Society  Libraries    ------     1,000 

Philosophical  apparatus    -     -     -     -        500 


$15,000 
"  But  perhaps  you  will  ask, — Was  not  the  building 
supposed  to  be  fire-proof?  Yes,  nearly  so,  when  fin- 
ished. Had  the  building  been  finished — the  partition 
walls  all  brick,  the  floors  double  and  lined  with  lime 
plaster,  and  the  roof  of  tin, — fire,  if  it  had  been 
communicated  to  any  part  of  the  building,  must  have 
made  but  slow  progress.  We  know  not  certainly  how 
the  fire  was  communicated.  But  the  supposition  is, 
that  it  was  in  some  way  communicated  to  the  wood- 
work of  the  roof  from  the  furnaces  of  the  tinners,  who 
had  been  at  w^ork  on  the  roof  during  the  day. 

"  Monday 'evening. — The  citizens  of  Crawfordsville 
have  this  evening  had  a  meeting  in  behalf  of  the   col- 
lege, and  the  following  resolutions  were   passed,  viz. : 
16 


362  MEMOIR  or 

"  '  Resolved,  That  we  deeply  lament  the  late  sad  oc- 
currence, which  has  so  seriously  threatened  the  bright 
prospects  of  Wabash-College. 

"'  Rcsolved,Thcii  the  flourishing  town  in  which  the 
college  is  located,  the  country  it  is  blessing,  and  the 
cause  of  general  education,  have  received  an  injury  which 
cannot  be  well  calculated. 

"  *  Resolved,  That  the  establishment  and  successful 
raising  of  a  literary  institution  will,  by  dispensing  the 
blessings  of  a  healthful,  moral  and  intellectual  educa- 
tion, amply  remunerate  any  people  for  the  trouble  and 
expense  it  may  cost  them. 

" '  Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  many  benefits 
which  the  Wabash-College  was  conferring  upon  both 
town  and  country,  it  is  our  interest  to  assist,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  faculty  and  trustees  of  the  college  to  ex- 
tricate themselves  from  the  difficulty  into  which  the 
late  burning  has  thrown  them  ;  and  that  it  is  our 
solemn  duty  to  place  said  institution  on  a  basis  which 
will  make  it  an  ornament  to  our  country,  and  a  proud 
monument  to  the  industry,  intelligence  and  enterprise 
of  the  people  who  founded  and  reared  it.' 

"The  above  resolutions  were  sustained  by  able  re- 
marks by  several  of  the  citizens,  and  the  general  voice 
is,  we  must  take  hold  and  rebuild. 

"  If  the  President  is  still  in  New-York,  tell  him  our 
hope  is  that  he  will  see  the  friends  of  the  college 
together,  if  he  can,  and  state  facts,  and  we  hope 
they  will  not  be  disheartened  by  this  disaster.  We 
shall  make  immediate  efforts  for  funds  here,  and  in  other 
towns  in  the  Wabash  country. 

"  Yours  &c." 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  363 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Equanimity  in  Distress  — Visit  to  the  East  protracted. — Returns 
home. — Agency  in  Indiana. — Call  from  Indianapolis. — Bac- 
calaureate.— Doctorated. — Third  journey  to  the  East. — Plea 
for  Western  Colleges. — Returns  home. — Commencement. — 
Agency  in  Indiana. — Si-jkness. — Death. 

On  the  very  day  which  Mr.  Baldwin  had  fixed  upon 
for  the  commencement  of  his  homeward-journey,  he  re- 
ceived the  appalhng  intelligence  that  the  building 
which  had  cost  him  so  much  toil,  anxiety,  and  painful 
sacrifices,  was  in  ashes.  Four  times  had  he  passed 
through  the  struggle  of  erecting,  by  means  of  benefac- 
tions obtained  mostly  by  himself,  a  costly  public  edifice. 
Tens  of  thousands  he  had  procured  by  personal  solicit- 
ations for  these  erections;  and  now  the  work  is  to  be 
undertaken  again  !  What  shall  he  do  ?  "  What  think 
you  now,"  said  an  acquaintance,  "  of  the  W^abash-Col- 
lege  ?  Will  you  not  give  it  up  ?"  "  Ch  !  no  ;"  he 
at  once  replied,  "  there  is  only  the  more  work  to  be 
done." 

But  the  state  of  his  mind  under  this  trial  may  best 
be  learned  from  his  own  words.  To  Mrs.  B.  he  writes, 
Oct.  2, — "  A  few  hours  since,  I  thought  that  my  ar- 
rangements were  near  being  completed  for  my  depart- 
ure towards  home ;  when  on  entering  the  office  of  the 
New-York  Observer,  I  was  told  that  Mr.  Morse  wished 
very  much  to  see  me — that  bad  news  had  been  received 
from  Crawfordsville — in  short,  that  our  beautiful  col- 
lege edifice  was  destroyed   by  fire.     It  was  some  time 


364  MEMOIR    OF 

before  I  could  be  persuaded  of  the  truth  of  the  an- 
nouncement. The  sight  of  Mr.  Morse  and  of  Mr.  Ho- 
vey's  letter,  settled  all  doubts.  It  is  even  so.  The 
friendly  and  generous  contributions  of  many  hands 
have  been  consumed  in  that  conflagration.  Many 
months  of  toil  and  anxious  care  have  perished  in  a 
night.  But  I  do  not  despair  of  our  ultimate  success. 
It  is  not  improbable,  that  this  very  sore  chastisement 
may  both  do  us  good  and  raise  us  up  new  and  able 
friends. 

"  I  have  scarcely  had  time  to  adapt  my  arrangements 
to  this  unexpected  visitation.  My  first  impression  is, 
that  I  must  defer  ray  return  to  Crawfordsville.  I  must 
see  our  friends  here  and  advise  with  them.  Should 
they  say,  as  I  think  they  will,  make  an  immediate  ap- 
peal to  the  benevolent  in  this  city,  the  appeal  must  be 
made  ;  and  I  must  be  kept,  I  cannot  say  how  long, 
from  you  and  our  beloved  ones.  I  was  half  homesick 
before;  you  can  imagine  how  I  feel,  with  the  prospect 
before  me  of  having  to  carry  my  appeal  for  the  col- 
lege to  our  Christian  friends,  in  the  present  embarrassed 
state  of  the  money-market.  Still  I  do  not  despond. 
The  college  must  and  will  rise  again. 

"  My  visit  to  the  East  has  not  disappointed  my  hopes, 
so  far  as  collecting  funds  is  concerned.  I  did  not  ex- 
pect to  obtain  a  large  amount  in  new  subscriptions.  I 
have  obtained  about  four  hundred  dollars,  of  which  more 
than  half  is  paid.  More  has  been  promised,  besides 
engagemen^ts  to  pay  old  subscriptions.  1  have  collected 
nine  hundred  dollars  in  the  whole,  and  have  had 
hopes  of  obtaining  half  as  much  more.  The  catastro- 
phe at  Crawfordsville  has  disappointed  my  expect- 
ations. 


RF,V.    DR.    BALDWIN.  365 

"  I  have  been  prosecuting  ray  visits  for  several  days 
among  our  former  charge.  The  two  congregations  are 
very  prosperous,  and  not  a  little  favored  with  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  had  preached  a  farewell  to 
Br.  Hatfield's  people;  but  I  am  not  likely  to  be  off  so 
soon  nor  so  easily  as  I  had  anticipated.  How  easily  our 
best  calculations  are  disappointed  !  I  am  tried,  but  not 
discouraged ;  '  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed.'  The 
Lord,  I  trust,  will  guide  and  keep  us  all." 

The  same  day  in  the  evening,  he  laid  the  matter  be- 
fore his  brethren  of  the  Third  Presbytery,  by  whose 
fraternal  sympathy  he  was  greatly  encouraged.  With 
their  advice  he  called  a  meeting  of  the  patrons  of  the 
college  and  others,  to  be  held  on  the  evening  of  the 
8th.     In  this  call  he  remarks  : 

"  A  kind  Providence  had  detained  me  in  this  city,  till 
the  reception  of  Professor  Hovey's  letter.  The  ruin  it 
details  is  but  a  faint  image  of  the  desolation  made  in 
the  hearts  of  many,  who  have  been  toiling  for  years  in 
the  cause  of  liberal.  Christian  education  in  the  West. 
It  is  both  our  duty  and  our  privilege,  to  recognize  sub- 
missively the  hand  of  God  in  this  chastisement ;  but 
despondency,  in  such  a  cause,  is  neither  Christian  nor 
manly." 

With  characteristic  diligence  he  went  to  his  self- 
denying  work  without  delay,  and  continued  in  it  nearly 
six  weeks.  His  progress  may  be  noted  in  the  following 
extracts : 

'•  Oct.  16. — I  am  waiting  with  much  anxiety  to  hear 
from  you.  The  spirit  which  has  sprung  up  on  behalf 
of  the  college  in  Crawfordsville,  affords  me  great  sat- 
isfaction. I  am  pushing  my  applications  here — find 
much    sympathy,  w^hich  does  not  go  down  into  the 


366  MKMOIR    OF 

pocket.  How  easy  it  is  to  say,  '  I  am  sorry  for  your 
loss ;  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  repair  it.  Be  ye 
warmer!  and  be  ye  clothed  ! '  But  many  do  in  fact 
sympathize,  who  cannot  give.  No  one  can  under- 
stand, who  has  not  been  on  the  ground,  what  a  wreck 
has  been  made  of  fortunes  and  credit,  especially  among 
the  merchants.  Those  who  have  sustained  their  credit 
through  the  storm,  have  done  it  by  great  sacrifices. 
And  the  return  of  business  puts  in  requisition  every  dol- 
lar of  their  capital ;  because  they  are  forced  to  do, 
much  more  than  formerly,  a  cash  business.  They  avail 
themselves  of  the  present  opportunity  to  extend  with 
trembling. 

"  Still  I  am  getting  something.  The  Seventh  Pres- 
byterian congregation  took  up  a  collection  for  me  last 
Sabbath-morning  of  more  than  $240.  I  shall  in  a  day 
or  two  authorize  a  draft  of  at  least  four  hundred  dollars, 
new  donations." 

"  JYov.  8.  —  1  conclude  from  your  silence  that  you 
suppose  I  am  before  now  on  my  way  to  Crawfordsville. 
My  affairs  here  are  now  in  the  way  of  being  arranged 
for  leaving  New-York.  I  expect  to  take  the  boat  on 
Monday  next,  the  12th  inst.,  for  Albany,  with  the  in- 
tention of  passing  a  day  in  Troy,  where  we  have  a 
small  subscription  to  collect,  and  then  to  push  on  for 
Buffalo.  I  have  done  50??ie//i?*7?.^  for  the  college;  but 
much  less  than  I  had  hoped  at  one  time.  The  trustees 
will  have  lost  nothing  by  my  visit. 

"  When  I  think  of  being  off,  1  say  to  myself — 
*  Would  that  I  had  some  one  that  I  am  acquainted 
with,  to  pack  my  trunk  ! — and  for  my  companion  too 
in  travel !'  I  do  not  imagine  that  this  hearty  wish  will 
excite  any  jealousy  in  your  mind.     These  long  jour- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  367 

nies  and  protracted  visits  are  quite  too  lonely.  Even 
friends  cannot  fill  up  the  void.  I  do  not,  however,  for- 
get my  obligations  to  our  heavenly  Father  for  his  kind 
providence." 

After  his  return  to  the  West,  he  wrote,  December 
26,  to  his  successor  in  New-York  an  account  of  his 
affairs  as  follows  :  "  My  journey  homew^ard  was  mark- 
ed by  serious  accidents  and  exposures  to  injury.  Near 
Chambersburg  (Penn.)  our  stage  w^as  robbed  of  a  large 
part  of  the  passengers'  baggage.  We  were  twice 
broken  down,  and  in  both  instances  the  horses  attempted 
to  run  away  with  the  carriage;  but  a  kind  Providence 
saved  me  from  injury  and  loss.  On  my  arrival,  I  found 
my  family  in  good  health,  and  the  affairs  of  col- 
lege quite  as  prosperous  as  I  had  anticipated.  The 
college-edifice  is  again  under  roof.  We  are  making 
our  calculations  to  recommence  working  on  it  early  in 
the  spring,  and  hope  to  complete  it  by  the  middle  of 
autumn.  Most  of  our  students  have  remained  with  us, 
notwithstanding  our  accommodations  have  been  nar- 
row, and  we  have  found  it  extremely  difficult  to  obtain 
a  supply  of  class-books.  Our  subscription  in  this  region 
amounts  already  to  $5000.  We  are  making  our  ar- 
rangements to  try  the  liberality  of  every  section  of  our 
State.  The  condition  of  the  money-market  is  against 
us,  but  the  sympathies  of  the  people  are  extensively  in 
our  favor. 

"  It  w'ill  afford  you  and  your  dear  companion  some 
pleasure  to  know,  that  the  donation  of  the  good  ladies  of 
the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church  to  the  Society  of  Inquiry 
in  the  Wabash-College,  has  not  been  lost.  The  books 
selected  and  purchased  at  Cincinnati  by  Br.  BuUard, 
v.-ere  providentially  detained  on  the  way,  and  did  not 


368  MEMOIR    CF 

arrive  in  Crawfordsville  till  after  the  fire.  They  con- 
stitute the  beginning  of  our  missionary  library.  The 
students  will  doubtless  acknowledge  the  donation  on 
their  return  after  vacation.  It  affords  me  great  satis- 
faction to  think  of  the  liberality  of  my  friends  and  for- 
mer charge.  I  do  not  for  one  moment  doubt  but  Prov- 
idence will  reward  them  for  it.  I  am  particularly  af- 
fected with  the  uniform  kindness  of  yourself  and  Bro- 
ther McLane  to  me  personally,  as  well  as  your  gene- 
rous patronage  of  the  enterprise  in  which  I  am  enlisted. 
A  certain  Mrs.  H.  too,  in  your  neighborhood,  must 
come  in  for  a  large  share  of  the  gratitude,  and  other 
loved  names  whom  I  could  not  soon  enumerate. 

"  I  desire  greatly  to  hear  how  you  prosper  in  your 
arrangements  for  the  winter.  Were  your  lectures  on 
infidelity  well  attended  ?  Do  you  attempt  a  protracted 
meeting  this  winter  ? 

"  I  found  on  my  arrival  here,  that  the  decrees  of  the 
Reforming  Assembly  of  1838,  had  been  carried  out 
against  the  majority  of  our  Presbytery.  A  young  cler- 
gyman, armed  with  power,  from  the  south,  had  occu- 
pied Brother  Thomson's  pulpit ;  and  in  due  form  pon- 
tifical, declared  him  no  longer  pastor  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  Crawfordsville,  and  along  with  us,  with- 
out the  pale  of  the  Presbyterian  communion  ! ! !  Most 
of  the  people  will  remain  with  Brother  Thomson.  Our 
college  is  entirely  in  the  hands  of  Constitutional  Pres- 
byterians. Still  the  division  is  extremely  undesirable 
in  its  effects  upon  many  good  objects.  How  far  it  will 
affect  the  prosperity  of  the  college  remains  to  be  seen." 

In  January,  1839,  he  visited  Lafayette,  on  the  Wa- 
bash, the  chief  town  of  Tippecanoe  county,  to  the 
north,  where  he  preached  several  times.     In  February 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  369 

he  also  visited  Putnam  county,  to  the  south,  and 
preached  frequently  in  Greencastle  and  Putnaraville. 
Shortly  after  we  find  him  in  Indianapolis  on  the  same 
errand.  On  all  these  occasions  he  sought  to  extend  the 
sympathy  that  had  been  kindled  up  in  behalf  of  Wa- 
bash-College.  By  these  continued  efforts,  the  subscrip- 
tion in  the  \ipper  Wabash-valley,  for  the  re-erection  of 
the  college-edifice,  was  enlarged  by  the  following  May 
to  more  than  $11,000,  of  which,  however,  a  large  part 
was  not  immediately  available. 

About  this  time  he  received  a  very  pressing  invitation 
to  become  the  pastor  of  the  2d  church  of  Indianapolis, 
which  had  recently  been  formed  in  consequence  of  the 
decisive  measures  of  the  "  Reformers."  Every  assu- 
rance was  given  of  a  liberal  support,  and  the  question 
was  also  brought  before  the  Board  of  Trustees.  It  was 
soon  disposed  of,  as  scarcely  to  be  even  thought  of 

These  divisions  were  multiplying,  and  threatened 
much  discord  and  strife.  "  The  interests  of  our  denom- 
ination," he  says  to  an  eastern  correspondent,  .^^Jaj/ 23, 
"  are  unhappily  affected  by  the  existing  controversy. 
Feeble  churches  are  divided  and  rendered  more  feeble. 
The  hearts  of  brethren  are  alienated  from  each  other, 
and  the  enemy  of  all  righteousness  triumphs.  What 
effect  this  state  of  things  will  have  on  our  col!e2:e,  can- 
not  certainly  be  known  ;  as  yet  we  experience  no  sub- 
traction of  patronage.  We  intend  to  have  as  little  to 
do  with  the  controversy  as  possible,  consistently  with 
maintaining  our  ground. 

"  Some  part  of  my  time,  since  I  returned,  has  been 

spent  in    soliciting   for  college.     Professor  Hovey   is 

now  absent,  making  solicitations  along  the  Ohio.     In 

the  mean  time,  we  have  nearly  seventy  students  who, 

13* 


370  MEMOIR    OF 

require  more  attention  than  twice  that  number  in  east- 
ern colleges.  VVe  work  hard,  and  make  some  sacri- 
fices, but  not  without  hope  of  ultimate  success.  The 
health  of  the  family  has  been  uncommonly  good  the 
past  season.  Mrs.  Baldwin  and  children  are  quite  con- 
tented here,  but  we  are  not  yet  w^eaned  from  New- 
York.  As  the  long  summer-vacation  approaches,  I 
think  of  you  with  renewed  interest,  but  hardly  expect 
to  visit  you.  I  desire  the  more  to  hear  of  your  prosperity, 
and  of  the  success  of  the  two  churches.  My  tenderest 
and  most  grateful  feelings  are  associated  with  my  for- 
mer charge.  They  are  as  fresh  to-night  as  the  week  I 
left  you  ;  and  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  still 
is,  that  you  may  be  greatly  blessed. 

"  1  thank  you  many  times  for  your  communications, 
and  your  cheerful  attention  to  my  affairs  in  New- York. 
I  cannot  reward  you  except  by  making  it  evident  to  my 
friends,  that  I  am  worth  more  to  the  cause  of  education 
here  and  to  the  church,  than  I  cost  them.  But  inability 
to  repay  kindness  and  friendly  services,  does  not  lessen 
my  need  of  them." 

To  another  he  says,  on  the  same  day, — "  The  coun- 
try is  agitated  by  the  controversy  in  our  communion. 
Religion  suffers  in  many  ways.  I  deeply  regret  it  all. 
We  have  as  little  to  do  with  contention  as  we  can,  but 
feel  ourselves  obliged  to  sho^v  our  colors.  Of  course 
we  run  up — '  Constitutional  Presbyterians,'  even,  as 
the  old  lady  said,  *  if  we  dip.  for  it.''  " 

The  theipe  of  his  annual  Address  to  the  graduating 
class  at  the  commencement  in  July,  1839,  was  "  The 
Useful  Man," — a  theme  suggested  evidently  by  the 
course  of  his  ow^n  life,  his  own  experience  furnishing 
the  leading  divisions  of  the  discourse.     It  is  in  some 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  371 

sense,  a  transcript  of  his  whole  public  life.  On  this 
account,  as  well  as  for  its  intrinsic  excellency,  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  it  deserves  a  place  in  this  narrative  : 

"  There  are,"  he  remarks,  "  two  great  principles  of 
conduct,  which  may  be  regarded  as  dividing  mankind 
between  them.  One  of  these  consists  in  the  rulins: 
purpose  of  the  mind,  to  render  ourselves  in  the  highest 
degree  useful.  It  prompts  to  the  anxious  inquiry, — 
How  shall  we  best  serve  our  generation  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life?  By  what  means  shall  we  most  effectu- 
ally exemplify  and  inculcate  whatever  things  are  pure 
and  lovely  and  of  good  report  ?  Whoever  urges  such 
inquiries  and  acts  habitually  in  accordance  with  them, 
has  given  himself  up  to  the  guidance  of  this  noble  prin- 
ciple. In  other  words,  he  has  marked  out  for  himself 
the  path  of  the  useful  man. 

"  The  other  principle  comprises  a  not  less  permanent 
desire  and  intention,  in  the  individual,  to  render  all 
things  subservient  to  his  own  happiness.  It  is  there- 
fore diametrically  opposed  to  the  former  both  in  its 
spirit  and  its  influence.  The  action  which  it  prompts, 
is  like  its  own  nature,  selfish,  and  of  course  restricted  to 
personal  advantage. 

"  Such,  it  must  be  remarked,  are  the  two  principles, 
when  contemplated  in  their  distinctive  character  and 
operations.  But  we  commonly  see  them  under  some 
partial  disguise,  and  in  connection  with  other  principles 
of  subordinate  but  active  influence.  The  good  man  is 
not  uniformly  consistent  in  carrying  out  his  purposes  of 
well-doing.  And  the  selfish  man  is  often  diverted  from 
his  course  by  the  appeals  of  humanity  and  natural  af- 
fection.    Still  the  difference  remains.     The  two  princi- 


372  MEMOIR    OF 

pies  can  never  be  cherished  and  hold  a  practical  su- 
premacy in  the  same  mind. 

*'  I  need  not  inform  my  audience,  which  of  these  an- 
tagonist principles  is  more  prolific  in  generous  senti- 
ments, or  leads  to  the  nobler  course  of  action.  You 
have  already  decided  for  the  useful  man.  By  what 
means  then,  is  now  the  serious  inquiry,  can  we  attain  to 
his  character  and  influence  ? 

"  It  is  extremely  obvious,  w^e  should  imagine,  that  a 
life  of  quiescent  inaction,  must  fail  of  realizing  them. 
The  man  of  leisure,  is  but  another  designation  for  one 
■whose  self-indulgence  has  relaxed  his  physical  and 
moral  energies,  one  who  satisfies  himself  with  consult- 
ing mainly  his  own  pleasures.  He  may  possess  talents 
of  no  common  order,  and  the  advantages  of  a  finished 
education  ;  he  may  have  wealth  and  family,  and  de- 
pendents, and  friends,  and  fame  to  second  his  every 
movement ;  and  yet  completely  fail  of  sustaining  the 
character  of  the  useful  man.  Talents  and  resources  are 
nothing,  without  the  vigilance  and  activity,  and  above 
all,  the  'principles  requisite  to  improve  them. 

"  It  is  just  as  manifest,  that  the  lover  of  popularity,  in 
every  profession,  has  mistaken  the  path  of  usefulness ; 
if  indeed  he  ever  had  it  in  his  heart  to  employ  his  pow- 
ers for  so  noble  a  purpose.  I  am  aware,  that  while  the 
ambitious  man  is  absorbed  by  the  desire  to  secure  the 
favor  of  the  multitude,  he  may  appear  to  himself  to  be 
accumulating  the  means  of  doing  good  upon  a  generous 
and  magnifij:ent  scale.  Reputation  and  influence  with 
our  fellow-citizens  are  moral  power.  It  is  no  more 
reprehensible  to  desire  them,  than  it  is  to  desire  other 
means  of  being  extensively  useful ;    but  they  must  be 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  373 

valued  principally  in  reference  to  the  benevolent  use  to 
be  made  of  them,  and  be  acquired  only  in  an  undevia- 
ting  course  of  moral  rectitude.  Ambition  contains  no 
ingredient  more  estimable,  than  refined  and  elevated 
selfishness.  Its  prominent  characteristics  are,  heartless 
indifference  to  the  rights  of  others,  and  the  ungenerous 
desire  to  possess  and  control  whatever  Providence  has 
conferred  upon  them.  It  affixes  no  limits  to  its  aspi- 
rations or  its  rapacity.  '  The  world,'  said  Napoleon 
Bonaparte,  '  was  made  for  France,  and  France  w^as 
made  for  me.'  And  the  Macedonian  madman  is  de- 
clared to  have  w^ept,  because  but  one  w^orld  had  been 
made  for  him  to  plunder. 

'  Fling  away  ambition  then, 
By  that  sin  fell  angels,  how  can  man  then, 
The  image  of  his  Maker,  hope  to  win  by  it  ?' 

"  It  were  well  if  other  deviations  from  a  useful  life 
were  not  more  concealed,  or  less  suspicious  in  their 
aspect.  We  have  seen  the  man  of  metaphysical  ab- 
straction, consuming  his  time,  his  social  feelings,  and 
his  moral  energies  in  intellectual  toil,  without  any 
practical  regard  to  the  improvement  of  others,  and 
apparently  with  no  useful  object  in  view. 

"  We  have  seen  others  devoting  themselves  exclu- 
sively to  the  pleasures  of  taste.  They  revelled  in  rich 
banquets  of  bright  thoughts,  they  exhausted  libraries, 
and  looked  for  the  next  rare  production  of  the  press, 
as  the  epicure  does  for  the  sumptuous  entertainment. 
But  the  useful  result — where  is  it  1 

"  We  have  observed  the  man,  whose  sole  object  ap- 
peared to  be  the  cultivation  and  enjoyment  of  social 
life.     '  What,'  one  might  ask,  *  could  possibly  be  ima- 


374  MEMOIR    OF 

gined,  more  harmless  ?' — while  nothing  is,  in  reality, 
more  insipid  and  useless. 

"  We  have  marked  those  again,  who  retb'e  to  live  on 
the  hard-earned  reputation  or  the  accumulated  wealth 
of  youthful  enterprise.  The  result  was  scarcely  more 
desirable.  Retirement  from  business,  except  it  be  in 
obedience  to  the  calls  of  age  or  of  premature  infirmity, 
has  self-indulgence  for  its  object.  And  this  will  be 
found,  in  all  circumstances,  at  war  with  a  useful  life. 

"  It  should  be  distinctly  understood,  that  nothing  great 
and  widely-useful  can  be  accomplished,  without  a  large 
measure  of  self-denial.  The  current  of  human  affairs 
sets  towards  deterioration  and  ruin.  Descent  is  easy. 
Very  ponderous  bodies  present  no  considerable  resist- 
ance to  the  hand  that  would  urge  them  down  the  steep 
declivity.  It  requires  but  little  enterprise  and  no  su- 
periority of  talent,  to  effect  an  incalculable  amount  of 
evil.  But  when  we  undertake  to  stem  the  current  of 
popular  vice,  and  would  stay  the  deluge,  then  our 
resources  begin  to  be  severely  taxed.  The  citizen  who 
stands  nobly  up  to  such  a  work,  will  have  to  disen- 
cumber himself  of  his  habits  of  sloth  and  effeminacy  ; 
he  must  inure  himself  to  hardness  and  active  toil;  and 
find  his  pleasure  in  putting  forth  his  utmost  energies. 
He  must  lay  his  account  with  denying  himself  in  every 
form.  So  have  patriots  and  reformers  done  in  those 
lands,  where  the  principles  of  freedom  and  a  pure  reli- 
gion have,  by  their  means,  gained  their  rightful  ascend- 
ency. The,  useful  man  never  completes  his  work,  so 
long  as  he  has  energy  to  expend  for  human  weal. 
He  seeks  not  rest  for  himself  The  silent  grave  will 
bring  it,  soon  enough  for  him,  and  much  too  soon  for 
the  world,  which  he  lives  in  but  to  bless. 


•  REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  375 

"  To  self-denial  must  be  added,  in  order  to  realize  a 
useful  life,  a  disinterested  and  benevolent  spirit.  This 
course  must  be  pursued,  in  the  absence  of  all  prospect 
of  personal  gain  ;  and  in  some  instances  at  the  hazard 
of  immense  and  most  painful  sacrifices.  The  philan- 
thropist devotes  himself  io  the  cause  in  which  he  has 
enlisted.  Howard  inquired  not  whether  his  arduous 
journeys  and  hazardous  visits  of  mercy  to  the  prisoner, 
over  half  of  Europe,  would  prove  advantageous  to  his 
fortune  or  his  reputation.  Wilberforce,  when,  with  a 
noble  band  of  Christian  statesmen,  he  enlisted  his  best 
efforts  on  behalf  of  bleeding  Africa,  did  not  press  the 
question  of  his  own  popularity  ;  nor  did  our  Washing- 
ton lay  his  strong  hand  on  the  sword  of  freedom,  with 
a  nice  calculation  of  the  personal  loss  and  gain  in- 
volved in  the  approaching  contest.  Who  has  not  ad- 
mired the  character  of  Moses,  the  prophet  and  patriotic 
leader  of  Israel ;  who  preferred  suffering  afflictions 
with  the  oppressed,  to  inheriting  the  crown  of  Egypt? 
and  the  noble  generosity  of  Paul,  in  sacrificing  all 
things,  even  life,  for  the  emancipation  of  mind  from 
the  bonds  of  superstition  and  idolatry  ?  The  same  dis- 
interested spirit  must  live  and  be  acted  out  in  this  age 
of  Christian  enterprise,  or  our  achievements  will  not 
be  worth  the  name. 

"  Nor  let  it  be  imagined,  that  this  spirit  is  chiefly 
needed  for  foreign  and  distant  operations  of  philan- 
thropy ;  as  if,  while  the  benevolence  of  Paul  and 
Howard  is  required  to  carry  the  blessings  of  civiliza- 
tion and  Christianity  to  the  dark  abodes  of  paganism, 
an  inferior  measure  of  benevolent  action  may  suffice 
for  the  safety  and  improvement  of  Christian  communi- 
ties.    We  have  rested  with  too  great  security  in  this 


376  MEMOIR    OF 

impression.  I  have  utterly  mistaken  the  signs  of  the 
times,  both  in  the  rehgious  and  secular  aspect  of  our 
country,  if  there  be  not,  at  the  present  moment,  an 
urgent  demand  for  faithful  citizens  of  expansive  and 
disinterested  views  of  benevolence,  to  rescue  us  from 
impending  calamities. 

"  Great  undertakings  are  not  ordinarily  accomplished 
without  the  exercise  of  strong  faith.  I  speak  now  of 
that  confidence  of  success^  which  gives  energy  to  coun- 
sel and  force  to  action.  *  Possumus  quia  videmur 
posse/  is  an  old  adage.  While  there  is  wisdom  in  dis- 
passionate counsels,  and  in  perfecting  extensive  plans 
with  deliberation  and  care  ;  another  spirit  is  not  seldom 
required,  to  carry  them  out  into  successful  operation. 
The  very  first  step  in  their  application  to  the  practical 
business  of  life,  demands  confidence  of  success.  The 
necessity  for  zeal  and  strong  emotion  will  arise,  as  dif- 
ficulties are  seen  to  present  themselves.  The  unimpas- 
sioned  spirit,  the  mind  that  is  not  borne  along  in  its 
own  enterprises  by  irrepressible  ardor,  will  seldom 
accomplish  much  in  any  great  and  good  cause. 

*'  Some  individuals  are  observed  to  possess,  in  a  re- 
markable degree,  the  faculty  of  converting  every  spe- 
cies of  knowledge  to  practical  use.  The  same  persons 
have  the  power  of  concentrating  their  intellectual  re- 
sources in  a  single  effort  and  in  a  continuous  course  of 
action.  This  talent  may  be  attributable,  in  some  cases, 
to  a  practical  cast  of  mind  inherited  from  nature ;  in 
more  instanpes,  it  is  the  effect  of  habit  and  cultivation. 
Most  persons  have  need  of  cultivating  it.  And  I  am 
persuaded,  the  attempt  will  seldom  be  made,  without  a 
measure  of  success.  It  is  a  most  valuable  talent,  in- 
dispensable, in  fact,  to  the  accomplishment  of  great  and 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  377 

difficult  enterprises.  To  be  extensively  useful,  doing- 
good  must  become  a  ruling  jyassion,  and  command 
habitually  our  best  resources  and  endeavors.  It  must 
enlist  as  deep,  and  persevering,  and  efficient  an  interest 
as  the  pursuits  of  wealth  or  ambition.  Every  acquisition, 
moral  and  intellectual,  must  be  made  to  enlarge  our 
sphere  of  influence  and  multiply  the  happy  results. 

"  The  pursuits  of  pleasure  and  ambition  are  unworthy 
of  a  good  man ;  while  a  life  of  self-indulgence  and 
inaction  mark  an  unprincipled  and  useless  character. 
The  attachments  to  kindred  and  those  growing  out  of 
social  intercourse,  exert  a  desirable  influence  over  so- 
ciety, but  considered  as  principles  of  action  they  con- 
stitute but  an  approximation  to  true  virtue.  They 
reach  not  beyond  the  present  life.  Our  moral  nature 
and  relations,  our  connection  with  eternity,  and 
the  interests  of  an  invisible  world,  the  claims  of 
God  upon  our  whole  existence,  demand  of  us  a  higher 
and  more  expansive  charity.  The  human  mind  can  be 
satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  that  spirit  of  good-will, 
and  active  benevolence,  which  brings  us  into  sympathy 
and  fellowship  wnth  the  benefactors  of  every  age.  He, 
that  lives  to  do  good,  and  bless  the  world,  has  no  want 
of  resources.  He  finds  enough  to  do — wide  fields  to 
cultivate — immense  enterprises  of  charity.  The  world 
lies  in  moral  degradation  before  him,  and  he  longs  to  see 
it  redeemed.  It  is  overspread  with  want  and  wo,  and  he 
finds  his  sweetest  enjoyment  in  relieving  its  sufferings. 
No  limit  can  be  affixed  to  his  resources  of  happiness, 
because  they  are  coextensive  with  the  opportunities  of 
doino;  good,  not  with  his  means  of  acquiring  it. 

"  In  this  course  he  maintains  a  good  conscience,  and 
is  cheered  on  by  the  noblest  examples  of  the  wise  and 


378  MEMOIR    OF 

the  good  of  all  ages.  Who  would  not  desire  to  tread 
ill  the  bright  footsteps  of  Noah  and  Abraham,  of  Moses 
and  Samuel,  with  all  the  holy  patriarchs  and  prophets  1 
Who  would  not  be  like  Paul  and  his  fellow-apostles, 
and  especially  him  'who  went  about  doing  good;' 
who  came  not  into  this  dark  world  to  be  ministered 
unto,  even  by  his  own  disciples  and  servants,  but  to 
minister  1  Who  would  not  wish  to  imbibe,  while  a 
sojourner  here,  the  spirit  of  heaven,  and  have  his  fel- 
lowship with  its  citizens,  in  happy  anticipation  of  being 
one  day  numbered  with  them  ? 

"  Need  it  be  added,  that  the  inducements  to  a  useful 
life  are  peculiarly  impressive  in  this  young  and  free 
community  ?  Here  is  ample  space  for  the  develop- 
ment of  every  description  and  grade  of  talent.  The 
profound  and  skilful  in  all  professions;  the  enterprising 
in  every  honorable  pursuit;  all  who  aspire  to  be  known 
as  the  ornaments  of  society  and  the  benefactors  of  man- 
kind, can  find  their  appropriate  spheres  of  action.  The 
wants  of  this  new  world  are  not  the  same  with  those 
of  old  and  overgrown  communities.  W^e  seldom 
meet  with  citizens  that  ask  for  bread.  But  there  are 
wants  of  another  description  that  meet  us  at  many 
points.  The  im.mortal  mind  is,  to  a  mournful  extent, 
left  to  famish  in  destructive  ignorance.  Our  literary 
institutions  do  not  keep  pace  with  the  rapid  march  of 
our  population.  We  seem  to  forget,  that  we  are 
charged  in  providence  with  furnishing  instruction  for 
a  people,  who  will  outnumber,  within  the  lifetime  of 
our  children's  children,  the  population  of  China,  and 
hold  the  destinies  of  this  great  continent  in  their  hands. 
W^ho  then  of  you  will  fold  his  hands  in  sloth  and  self- 
indulgence,  and  dare  to  meet  the  fearful  account  of  his 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  379 

stewardship  ?  Who  shall  live  for  himself,  and  hope  to 
receive  the  plaudit  of — '  Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant  V  Who  would  not  rather  suffer  with  all  the 
good,  and  be  able  to  say  at  last,  '  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course  :  henceforth  there 
is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not 
away  V  " 

At  the  commencement  of  Indiana-College,  at  Bloom- 
ington,  in  July  of  this  year,  he  was  honored  with  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  This  mark  of  respect 
and  distinction  was  the  more  generous  as  it  came  from 
a  rival  college  of  his  adopted  State,  and  from  one  that 
favored  those  views  that  are  commonly  styled  "  Old 
School." 

Soon  after  he  attempted  a  third  journey  to  the  East. 
On  the  way  he  visited  his  aged  parents  at  Atwater, 
Ohio,  made  some  stay  at  Cleveland,  and  did  something 
for  the  College  at  Buffalo.  At  Palmyra  he  was  en- 
couraged to  expect  something  on  his  return.  "  From 
Palmyra,"  he  says,  "  I  went  to  Geneva,  and  spent  the 
Sabbath  in  the  family  of  Br.  M., formerly  of  New-York. 
T  found  the  church  in  Geneva  engaged  in  erecting  a 
new  house  of  worship,  but  they  did  not  entirely  refuse 
their  aid  to  us.  Having  done  what  I  could  at  Geneva, 
and  took  the  boat  on  Seneca-Lake  on  my  way  to  Elmira, 
I  found  there  a  friend  who  subscribed  fifty  dollars  to 
rebuild  Wabash-College.  My  next  stage  was  to  Owego, 
near  the  Pennsylvania  line.  It  is  a  pretty  village  of 
2000  inhabitants.  Br.  W.  is  the  pastor.  I  met  with  a 
most  cordial  welcome  from  him  and  his  excellent  wife, 
and  particularly  from  Mrs.  C.  They  were  unapprised 
of  my  intention  to  visit  them,  until  near  the  time  of  my 
arrival.     I  made    some     efforts   for    the    college,   in 


380  MEMOIR    OF 

Owego,  with  the  hearty  consent  of  Br.  W.  and  his 
family,  but  in  other  respects  under  the  most  disadvan- 
tageous circumstances.  The  result,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  was  small. 

"  Having  gathered  up  what  I  could  in  Owego,  I  left, 
with  much  respect  for  my  new  acquaintance  there,  and 
rode  day  and  night,  till  I  found  myself  in  Troy.  The 
Board  of  Missions  were  assembling  when  I  arrived. 
We  commenced  our  meetings  the  same  day  and  ad- 
journed a  few  hours  since.  The  anniversary  exercises 
were  extremely  interesting,  and  seemed  to  diffuse  a 
good  influence. 

"  My  health  continues  to  be  good.  I  find  hospitality 
everywhere,  and  but  little  money  anywhere.  The  money- 
market  is  in  a  bad  and  very  precarious  state.  This  in- 
duces the  trading  classes  to  hold  on  to  what  they  have; 
and  effectually  excuses  all  who  desire  it  from  giving  to 
benevolent  objects.  Still  I  do  not  yet  give  up  the  ship. 
Wabash-CoUege  is  worth  many  an  effort  to  elevate  and 
sustain  it.  I  would  rather  make  them  in  Indiana  than 
here,  but  they  must  be  made." 

He  reached  New-York  on  the  17th  of  September,  and 
the  same  evening  found  his  way  into  the  lecture-room 
of  the  old  church.  "  I  had,"  he  remarks,  "  a  most 
pleasant  interview  with  the  congregation.  On  Friday 
I  made  a  little  excursion  to  Newark.  On  the  Sabbath 
I  preached  to  three  congregations ; — first  to  my  old 
charge  ;  in  the  P.  M.  to  Br.  McLane's,  and  in  the  eve- 
n'ng  to  the  new  colony  on  Manhattan  Island.  I  worked 
hard  enoug^h,  but  found  myself  extremely  well  after  the 
effort.  The  colony  numbers  about  100  members,  of 
whom  about  60  have  gone  out  from  the  Old  Hive. 
They  have  called  the  Rev.  Mr.  N.  from  Washington 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  381 

City.  He  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  high  qualifications 
for  the  work  assigned  him. 

"  I  am  much  occupied  with  my  business.  Some  col- 
lections for  college  will  be  effected.  But  the  pressure 
on  the  money-market  is  very  severe.  There  is  also  an 
indifference, — I  fear  that  I  must  say  a  prejudice, — 
coming  up  here,  against  extending  much  aid  to 
Western  colleges.  You  have  read,  I  presume,  some 
recent  remarks  in  the  New-York  Observer,  respecting 
the  colleges  at  the  West.  They  appear  to  me  to  have 
done  more  mischief  than  a  little.  Coming,  as  they  do, 
from  a  man  (Dr.  Humphrey)  who  is  reputed  to  be  un- 
commonly sagacious  and  benevolent,  they  have  been 
received  almost  without  being  canvassed  by  any,  and 
really  supply  rich  and  covetous  Christians  with  a  most 
charming  apology  for  holding  on  to  their  pelf.  I  have 
commenced  a  reply  to  them,  which  you  w411  probably 
recognize.  M.  thinks  that  I  have  much  the  best  of 
the  argument ; — my  first  number  appears  in  the 
Observer  of  this  week.  You  must  not  look  for  much 
of  eloquence  in  it !  !  The  next  I  think  will  be 
better. 

"  The  Life  of  Dr.  GriflSn  is  out,  and,  together  with  a 
selection  of  his  best  sermons,  makes  two  octavo  volumes. 
The  work  contains  a  beautiful  print  of  the  beloved  man. 
I  have  bought  them,  very  much  on  your  account ;  and 
enjoy,  in  prospect,  the  pleasure  they  will  afford  you. 
The  picture  by  itself  is  worth  the  price  of  the  work. 

"  I  expect  to  remain  here  till  after  the  next  Sabbath — 
then  visit  New  London,  Hartford,  and  Middletown, 
Conn.,  return  by  New-York,  and  take  the  route  by  Buf- 
falo home. 

*     *     *     "  I  am  heart-sick  of  this  long  absence.    I 


382  MEMOIR   OF 

loniT  once  more  to  see  the  faces  that  I  most  love  of  all 
earthly  friends.  May  our  Heavenly  Father  keep  you 
all." 

The  remarks  of  Dr.  Humphrey,  to  which  allusion  is 
made  in  the  above  letter,  drew  from  him  three  articles 
in  vindication  of  the  course  pursued  at  the  west,  in 
multiplying  the  number  of  literary  institutions.  By  a 
course  of  careful  reasoning,  he  shows  that  the  three 
great  states,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Ilinois,  should  have  as 
many,  to  say  the  least,  colleges  of  high  order,  as 
New-England,  or  any  other  section  of  the  United 
States,  of  equal  population  ;  that  the  Western  people 
must  educate  their  own  children,  and  look  chiefly  to 
them  to  fill  among  them  the  learned  professions.  On 
this  last  point,  he  remarks  : 

"  The  fathers  of  New^  England  understood  this  prac- 
tical subject.  A  large  proportion  of  the  first  colonists 
were  good  scholars.  They  had  among  them,  in  the 
first  instance,  more  educated  men,  especially  in  the  holy 
ministry,  than  could  w^ell  find  employment.  It  cannot 
be  doubted  but  they  could  have  drawn,  for  several 
generations,  any  number  of  scholars  and  professional 
characters  which  they  might  need,  from  the  mother- 
country.  And  yet  the  eighteenth  year  of  their  noble 
enterprise,  saw  them  employed  in  founding  a  Univer- 
sity for  the  liberal  education  of  their  sons.  These  free 
and  sagacious  fathers  of  a  new  empire  understood,  that 
to  render  the  people  intelligent  for  any  length  of  time, 
education  of  the  highest  order  must  come  up  and  be 
cultivated  in  the  midst  of  them.  They  intended,  more- 
over, that  the  work  of  preparing  their  sons  to  fill  the 
liberal  professions  should  be  carried  forward  under  their 
own  eye  and  supervision ;    that  their  academies,  and 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  383 

schools,  and  social  intercourse,  should  feel  its  inspira- 
tion. They  aimed  to  place  the  means  of  acquiring  a 
liberal  education  within  the  reach  of  their  youth  in 
humble  circumstances  ;  and  that  the  success  of  one  in- 
dividual, in  his  attempts  to  rise,  through  the  ardent 
pursuit  of  science,  above  the  obscurity  of  birth  or  pov- 
erty, should  excite  the  aspirations  and  noble  endeavors 
of  many  others.  They  doubtless  hoped,  that  by  means 
of  scholars  raised  up  at  home  and  from  among  their 
own  children,  their  high  schools  would  be  taught  and 
intelligence  be  diffused  in  all  its  freshness,  throughout 
the  great  mass  of  the  population. 

"And  what  have  been  the  results?  Greater  and 
more  happy,  certainly,  than  some  citizens  of  New^- 
England  appear  to  understand.  But  what  might  have 
been  the  consequences,  had  the  Pilgrim-fathers  have 
come  to  the  conclusion,  *  We  shall  need  our  young 
men  for  the  plough,  the  mechanic's  shop,  and  the 
merchant's  counter;  England  may  send  us  educated 
jurists,  physicians,  and  teachers  V  She  could  easily 
have  done  it ;  while  Massachusetts  and  her  sister  colo- 
nies could  as  easily  have  found  ample  employment  for 
their  sons,  in  the  laborious  occupations  required  to 
draw  forth  the  resources  of  their  rugged  country  and  its 
adjacent  waters.  But  what,  1  ask,  would  have  been 
the  consequences  to  the  general  intelligence  of  New- 
England, — to  the  cause  of  education  and  free  institu- 
tions in  this  western  world  ?" 

"  The  Western  Man,"  as  he  styles  himself  in  these 
communications,  concludes  with  a  clear  and  pow- 
erful statement  of  the  claims  of  the  West  for  aid  in  the 
endowment  of  their  colleges.  Having  shown  that  these 
institutions  must,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  be,  for  the 


384  MEMOIR    OF 

most  part,  dependent  on  private  munificence  for  their 
early  support, — that  this  munificence  cannot  be  with- 
held without  great  damage  to  the  rapidly-growingWest 
— and  that,  though  possessed  of  an  incomparable  soil, 
&c.,  the  West  has  but  little  money,  and  no  surplus  funds, 
have  not  had  time  enough  to  become  assimilated  w^ith 
each  other,  and  are  much  divided  among  themselves  by 
unhappy  controversies  respecting  religion, — he  adds  : 

"  The  rising  communities  of  the  West  will,  like  every 
other  people,  be  just  what  their  intellectual  and  moral 
education  shall  make  them.  And  that  again  will  re- 
ceive its  type  from  their  higher  and  most  efficient  insti- 
tutions ;  it  must  rise  or  sink  with  them,  both  in  charac- 
ter and  influence.  Reveal  to  me  the  number  and  cha- 
racter of  the  western  colleges  for  a  century  to  come, 
and  without  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  I  will  tell  you  what 
shall  be  the  character  of  her  academies  and  common 
schools,  of  her  scholars  and  jurists,  and  politicians  and 
religious  teachers,  and,  in  short,  of  her  teeming  millions. 
The  moral  destinies  of  the  great  West,  seem,  so  far  as 
means  can  affect  them,  to  be  placed  in  a  few  hands.  I 
tremble  for  the  result ; — for  there  is  a  drama  to  be  acted 
hereafter,  in  these  United  States,  between  the  Allegha- 
ny and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  for  weal  or  for  wo 
to  the  human  race.  States  and  nations  shall  be  the 
joyful  or  the  trembling  spectators.  Our  own  children 
shall  be  the  real  actors,  to  be  approved  of  God  and  man, 
or  branded  with  their  curse  and  execrations.  Who 
that  feels  the  kindlings  of  patriotism,  or  philanthropy, 
would  not  add  his  liberality  and  influence,  to  the  efforts 
which  may  plant  for  them  those  very  institutions,  to 
which  we  and  our  fathers  are  so  deeply  indebted,  for 
whatever  is  lovely  and  of  good  report  throughout  our 
peaceful  and  happy  land  ?" 


REV.    ]JU.    iULDWIN.  385 

To  the  occasion  and  manner  of  his  \vritiij(]j  these  ar- 
ticles, he  refers,  in  the  followino-  account,  Oct.  3d,  of 
his  progress  in  the  East : — "  The  truth  is,  I  am  driven 
about  somewhat  like  a  ball,  which  has  no  control  of 
itself.  Since  I  came  hither,  I  have  been  trying  to  col- 
lect the  subscriptions  due  our  college.  To  some  extent 
I  have  succeeded.  The  New-York  Observer  will  tell 
you  that  I  have  been  doing  something  beside.  I  found 
that  the  influence  of  President  Humphrey's  "  Gleanings, 
4'c.  in  the  Great  Valley,^''  were  just  the  worst  commu- 
nications that  could  be  written  for  us,  and  must  be  an- 
swered. I  put  on  the  harness,  and  wrote  as  I  could. 
I  am  just  now  setting  off  for  Middletown,  Hartford, 
and  New-London — shall  make  a  flying  journey,  and 
then  turn  my  willing  footsteps  West,  *  where  my  best 
friends,  my  kindred  dwell.'  My  health  is  very  fine. 
The  pressure  here  for  money,  say  the  merchants,  is 
horrible — worse  than  in  1837,  when  every  body  'fail- 
ed.' There  is  no  attempting  subscriptions  with  a  good 
face  for  any  such  object  as  mine.  We  wait  anxiously 
for  the  steamer  Liverpool,  in  hopes  that  she  may  bring 
good  news  from  England ; — but  in  this  we  rather  hope 
against  hope. 

"  I  am  desirous  to  return  home,  and  see  those  loving 
ones  that  wish  for  my  return,  more  than  I  can  describe. 
With  all  my  patience,  I  am  sorely  tried ;  but  wish  to 
do  my  duty  at  every  expense.  Your  account  of  the 
college-bell,  state  of  ^the  building,  students,  &c.,  was 
very  interesting  to  me.  Our  brethren  are  worthy  to 
succeed  in  this  good  enterprise,  and  I  have  faith  to  be- 
lieve that  they  will." 

Having  finished  his  work  at  the  East,  he  set  his  face 
westward,  about  the  last  of  October.     On  the  20th,  in 

17 


386  MEMOIR    OF 

the  evenino',  he  preached  his  last  sermon  to  the  people 
whom  he  always  delighted  to  call  his  own,  from  the 
text — "  Godliness  is  profitable  unto  all  things,"  etc. 
On  the  25th  he  left  the  city,  and  visited  his  native 
place  in  Greene  Co.,  where  he  spent  the  following  Sab- 
bath, and  collected  a  small  amount  for  the  college. 
On  Wednesday,  October  30th,  he  left  Durham,  for  Hud- 
son ;  after  visiting  his  brother  at  Chatham,  Columbia 
Co.,  reached  Clinton,  near  Utica,  on  the  2d  of  Novem- 
ber,    Under  this  date  he  wrote  as  follows  : 

'^  The  time  that  I  spent  in  Durham  was  not  lost  to 
the  college.  I  also  took  a  mournful  satisfaction  in 
walking  over  the  grounds,  where  I  was  once  accus- 
tomed to  sport,  or  work  the  long  day,  and  where  my 
nearest  relatives  expended  most  of  their  earthly  exist- 
ence. All  how^ever  seemed  much  like  a  dream  that  is 
past.  I  did  not  feel  happy  there.  My  interests  seemed 
to  be  far  away,  and  I  was  desirous  rather  to  depart. 
Oh  !  W'hat  is  life,  but  a  dream — an  empty  show  ! 

"  It  need  not  be  added,  that  our  relatives  were  glad 
to  see  me.  They  send  by  me  many  kind  wishes  to 
you  and  the  children.  In  fact,  if  such  things  were  not 
as  light  as  air,  I  should  have  been  over-loaded  a  long 
time  since. 

"  Immediately  after  the  Sabbath  (day  after  to-mor- 
row), I  expect  to  start  for  Buffalo,  making  the  neces- 
sary calls  at  Auburn  and  Palmyra.  My  hope  is  to 
reach  Cleveland,  and  perhaps  a  point  nearer  home  the 
Sabbath  after  next.  Could  I  borrow  a  pair  of  wings, 
somew^hat  safer  than  those  of  Dtedalus,  you  w^ould  soon 
see  me  at  the  door  of  the  "  President's  cottage."  In 
truth,  I  am  frequently  with  you  in  spirit.  1  imagine 
how  you  appear,  and  am  sometimes  anxious  lest  some 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  387 

evil  calamity  should  befall  you  in  my  absence.  I  think 
too  of  your  loneliness  and  wonder  at  my  delay  to 
come.  But  I  will  hope  that  you  make  yourselves  as 
cheerful  as  possible.  Providence,  I  think,  will  smile 
on  us  still,  and  the  separation  be  but  for  a  few  days 
longer. 

"  Were  it  necessary  to  be  assured,  that  I  am  held  in 
some  little  estimation  on  this  side  of  the  mountains,  I 
have  that  assurance  in  a  recent  application  on  behalf 
of  the  church  of  Catskill.  Clinton  is  again  vacant  and 
has  need  of  a  pastor ;  but  I  am  quite  blind  to  all  east 
of  the  Alleghanies. 

"  My  health  is  fine.  Travelling  evidently  agrees 
with  me  in  this  respect,  but  I  am  weary  of  wandering 
from  those  I  love  best.  You  need  not  think  me  home- 
sick, but  only  more  desirious  of  putting  my  eyes  on 
you  and  ours,  than  I  ever  w^as  before  now. 

"  I  preach  twice  to-morrow  for  the  people  of  Clinton 
The  Sacrament  is  to  be  administered  to  the  vacant 
church. 

"  I  shall  try  to  do  something  for  our  college  in  Clin- 
ton if  the  way  is  open,  but  see  not  much  to  encourage 
me.  The  pressure  here  and  throughout  this  region, 
has  been  increased  unnaturally  by  the  speculation  in 
wheat  some  months  since.  A  reaction  in  prices  ren- 
ders it  impossible  for  the  farmers  to  sell  their  produce, 
except  at  a  great  sacrifice.  Business  seems  to  be  at  a 
stand.  The  hope  is  notwithstanding  beginning  to  be 
expressed,  that  the  merchants  have  experienced  the 
worst  crisis." 

He  reached  home  in  November,  and  immediately 
resumed  the  performance  of  the  active  duties  of  his 
station.     In  February,  1840,  he  remarks, — "  Since  my 


388  MEMOIR    OF 

return,  the  college  has  occupied  my  anxious  thoughts. 
The  number  of  students  averages  70  the  present  year. 
We  suffer  for  want  of  funds,  and  see  no  immediate 
prospect  of  relief.  /  am  sometimes  in  doubt  respecting 
my  continuance  here ;  particularly  as  the  college  is 
well-manned,  and  might  gel  on,  as  I  think,  without 
me." 

In  March  he  was  much  cheered,  and  the  doubt  ex- 
pressed above  quite  dissipated  by  observing  that  an 
evident  blessing  had  flowed  to  his  youthful  charge  from 
the  observance  of  the  annual  concert  of  prayer  on  the 
last  Thursday  of  February.  "  There  is  much  more  than 
usual  attention  to  religion,"  he  writes  early  in  March, 
"  both  in  the  college  and  in  town.  We  hope  for  still 
greater  mercy.  A  protracted  series  of  meetings  has 
now  been  kept  up  for  more  than  a  week.  Some  ten 
or  fifteen  persons  are  indulging  hope  of  their  acceptance 
with  God." 

Within  the  followinsr  six  weeks  he  visited  Terre- 

o 

Haute,  and  Rockville,  the  chief  town  of  Parke  Co. ; 
and  in  each  place  preached  seven  sermons  with  great 
interest  to  himself  and  the  people.  In  the  latter  place, 
particularly,  he  was  greatly  encouraged  by  the  success 
which  appeared  to  crown  his  labors.  In  view  of  it  he 
says,  April  19th, — "  I  pray  God  that  I  may  be  humble, 
and  still  succeeded  in  my  labors." 

He  addressed  on  the  5th  of  May  the  following  letter 
to  the  pastor  of  his  former  charge  in  New-York : — 
"  My  dear  Brother ! — For  several  days,  my  thoughts 
have  dwelt  with  special  interest  upon  the  former  scene 
of  my  labors.  I  have  heard  through  the  papers  of  the 
blessing  bestowed  upon  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  church, 
and  her  two  daucrhters.     Brother  McL has  added 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  389 

some  particulars  in  a  recent  letter,  respecting  his  charge 
with  a  most  gratifying  notice  of  the  success  attending 
the  new  enterprise.  He  mentions  your  prosperity,  but, 
with  few  particulars.  I  cannot  easily  express  to  you 
how  much  I  sympathize  with  you  and  your  flock  in  all 
that  affects  your  interests,  nor  how  ardently  I  desire 
that  the  blessing  of  God  may  ever  rest  upon-y^ou.  I 
have  never  lost  for  one  moment  the  desire  I  had,  when 
it  w^as  first  ray  privilege  to  commend  you  to  my  people 
as  my  successor,  that  your  labors  among  them  might 
be  blessed  of  God  a  hundred-fold  more  than  mine  had 
been.  The  result  has  exceeded  my  expectation.  I 
dwell  on  it  in  my  thoughts, — I  do  not  forget  it  in  my 
supplications  ;  and  I  desire  from  you  just  such  an  ac- 
count of  your  affairs  and  prospects,  as  you  would  give 
me  w^ere  I  now  seated  with  you  and  Mrs.  H.  in  your 
parlor.  Have  any  shared  in  this  recent  visitation  of 
mercy,  w4io  were  my  stated  hearers  ?  Has  the  revival 
given  you  as  many  members  and  as  much  strength,  as 
you  parted  with  to  aid  Brother  N.  ? 

"  Our  efforts  for  the  college  during  the  past  year, 
have  not  been  altogether  in  vain.  The  college-edifice 
has  been  rebuilt  with  improvements.  Our  number  of 
students  has  somewhat  increased.  During  the  latter 
part  of  the  last  term,  we  enjoyed  an  unusual  measure 
of  spiritual  influence.  Several  of  the  students  became 
hopefully  pious.  We  are  now  giving  our  time  and 
energies  to  the  work  of  instruction.  Our  hope  is,  that 
the  college  will  be  sustained,  because  the  interests  of  the 
church  and  the  country  evidently  require  it.  Since  my 
connection  with  the  institution,  as  many  as  forty  of 
the  students  have  afforded  evidence  of  their  conversion 
to  God.     The  more  indirect  influence  of  the  colleo;e  in 


390  MEMOIR    OF 

promoting  the  interests  of  piety,  have  also  been  impor- 
tant. Myself  and  family  continue  to  enjoy  our  usual 
measure  of  health.  Our  children  are  all  employed  in 
acquiring  their  education.  Joseph  has  made  a  public 
profession  of  Christ,  and  is  now  in  the  preparatory  de- 
partment of  college.  Our  mother,  ^Yho  remembers 
your  family  with  interest,  retains  her  strength  and 
mental  powers  beyond  what  is  common  at  her  age. — 
Write  me  soon,  and  believe  me,  your  sincere  friend." 

The  last  record  of  his  diary  is  dated  June  15,  1840  : 
— "  I  am  still  favored  with  health  in  my  family,  and  a 
measure  of  success  in  my  labors  as  President  of  the 
college.  I  preach  very  often  for  Br.  Thompson,  as  well 
as  to  the  students,  but  without  observing  any  consider- 
able fruit  of  my  ministrations.  I  desire  to  be  humbled 
for  my  unprofitableness  in  the  service  of  the  best  of  Mas- 
ters. By  his  help  I  will  be  more  watchful  and  prayer- 
ful." 

At  the  commencement  in  July,  he  delivered  to  the 
graduating  class  an  address  in  which  he  presented  to 
them  "  the  claims  of  the  West  upon  the  services  of  her 
educated  youth."  It  embodied  some  of  his  best  and 
noblest  thoughts,  as  well  as  much  of  his  own  expe- 
rience. 

As  this  proved  to  be  the  last  of  his  public  addresses  to 
the  beloved  youth  of  his  charge,  it  may  be  well  to 
gather  up,  for  the  benefit  of  surviving  friends,  some  of 
his  maturest  thoughts.  His  first  words  are — "  The  part- 
ing counsel  o^  friends  is  commonly  held  in  grateful  re- 
membrance." Little  did  he  or  they  know  then  the 
full  import  of  these  words  ! 

After  some  preliminary  remarks  in  relation  to  the 
inducements  held  out  to  young  men  of  talent  to  locate 


REV.    DR.    BALDWLN.  391 

themselves  in  the  East,  he  proceeds  to  show  "  that  no 
other  part  of  Christendom  can  present  equal  demands 
upon  their  benevolent  enterprise."  He  then  lays  down 
the  position,  "  that  the  educated  youth  of  good  moral 
habits  and  decided  enterprise,  may  commonly  be  ex- 
pected to  accomplish  most  for  society  in  his  native 
region."     This  position  he  maintains,  as  follows  : 

"  He  has  there  acquired  a  reputation,  which  be- 
comes his  passport  to  the  confidence  and  patronage  of 
the  people.  He  has  enlisted  the  partialities  of  numer- 
ous friends.  With  the  loading  propensities  of  distin- 
guished individuals,  with  the  manners  and  customs, 
partialities,  aims  and  pursuits  of  the  multitude,  he  has 
gained  an  accurate  acquaintance.  These  are  acquisi- 
tions, not  soon  attained  by  emigrants  and  strangers  of 
the  more  observing  class,  and  by  many,  never ;  such, 
indeed,  as  may  not  be  lightly  thrown  away  for  distant 
prospects  of  superior  gain  and  usefulness. 

"  There  are,  moreover,  influences  invaluable  to  so- 
ciety, connected  with  the  elevation  of  the  educated 
youth  among  his  kindred  and  early  companions.  In- 
stances of  individual  success,  in  ascending  to  honorable 
distinction,  and  in  securing  an  extensive  and  useful  in- 
fluence, are  never  overlooked  by  our  aspiring  citizens. 
One  enterprising  youth  commonly  attaches  to  him  a 
train  of  kindred  spirits.  His  rise  to  eminence  becomes 
a  signal  for  his  companions  to  try  the  same  or  other 
more  inviting  paths  of  high  endeavor  ;  and  the  benefits 
conferred  upon  his  family,  excite,  in  many  a  parent's 
heart,  like  anticipations  for  his  own  children. 

"  Desire  for  improvement  is  infectious.  It  spreads 
by  sympathy,  and  sends  forth  new  impulses  to  action. 
Families,  neighborhoods,  and  towns,  feel  its  power, 


392  MEMOIR    OF 

and  are  elevated  in  the  scale  of  social  and  moral  exist- 
ence. Society  assumes  a  new  face,  and  testifies  in  lan- 
guage more  eloquent  than  words,  the  magic  sway  of 
educated  mind. 

"  Now  these  are  precisely  the  influences  demanded 
for  every  new  community, — influences,  which  the  emi- 
grant youth  does  not  bear  away  with  him,  nor  can  the 
stranger  by  any  means  supply. 

"  Doubtless,  it  is  for  wise  and  noble  ends,  that  Provi- 
dence entwines  us  with  the  love  of  kindred,  and  home, 
and  native  soil,  and  youthful  associates;  that  he  makes 
the  long-frequented  grove,  and  mountain,  and  water- 
fall, beauty  to  the  eye,  and  music  to  the  ear, — giving 
them  a  language  for  the  soul,  which  other  landscapes 
cannot  whisper,  and  with  which  the  stranger  intermed- 
dleth  not.  These  should  doubtless  be  allowed  their 
appropriate  influence  in  deciding  our  location  for  life, 
as  they  certainly  will  have,  in  giving  men  a  wide  and 
useful  ascendency  over  mind." 

He  then  passes  to  speak  of  the  fact,  that  "  the  West 
has  special  need  of  the  best  educated  and  most  com- 
manding talent ;"  because  society  is  there  in  its  form- 
ing state ;  the  question  is  yet  to  be  decided  as  to  the 
social  and  moral  elevation  of  that  society;  the  standard 
of  elevation  is  soon  to  be  determined  ;  the  crisis  is  just 
at  hand  ;  and  incomparable  facilities  are  furnished  at  the 
West  for  individual  enterprise.  On  this  point  his  re- 
marks must  be  given  at  length  : 

''  The  western  philanthropist  encounters  at  the  outset 
many  trials  of  his  faith,  it  may  be,  sad  and  almost  ruin- 
ous disappointments.  His  first  and  most  strenuous 
endeavors  are,  perhaps,  expended  on  few  and  rough 
materials;  but  time  is  ever  bringing  tn  his  aid  other 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  393 

hands  and  new  resources,  is  disclosing  to  his  view 
greater  and  more  inviting  enterprises,  and  cheering  him 
on  with  accumulated  success.  Onward  and  improving, 
designate  all  around  him. 

"  While  he  toils  for  the  public  w^eal,  he  sees  the 
market-town  expand  into  a  great  emporium,  the  un- 
cultivated wilderness  and  prairie  put  on  the  aspect  of 
green  fields,  and  bright  villages  teeming  with  life  and 
enterprise ;  and  his  noble  plans  of  popular  and  moral 
education,  borne  upon  the  advancing  current  of  im- 
provement. The  village-school  becomes  a  well-regu- 
lated and  endowed  academy ;  and  the  academy  rises 
to  a  college.  The  little  assemblies  of  Christian  wor- 
shipers, scattered  over  the  face  of  the  country,  become 
numerous  and  flourishing  congregations. 

"  Of  these  useful  improvements,  which  not  only  ele- 
vate society  for  the  time,  but  carry  down  prosperity 
and  intelligence,  and  contentment,  and  moral  charac- 
ter, to  succeeding  generations,  he  becomes  the  author, 
or  the  generous  patron.  As  such,  he  will  be  remem- 
bered. He  will  leave  a  more  exalted  name  on  the 
records  of  patriotism  and  philanthropy — an  influence 
of  wider  extent  and  more  potent  energy,  than  could 
have  resulted  from  similar  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
society,  in  a  country  of  established  order  and  matured 
institutions." 

On  a  subsequent  page  he  adds:  -  "  ^len  sometimes 
talk  of  the  expense  involved  in  cultivating  the  liberal 
arts  and  sciences.  And  they  are  somewhat  expensive. 
I  admit  that  knowledge  costs  time  and  money.  But 
what  \'i  ignorance^  in  high  places  and  low,  were  forced 
to  brin-;  in  her  account-current  with  the  community 
— to  proclaim  in  the  ears  of  all  the  people,  how  many 


394  MEMOIR    OF 

dead  losses  she  has  occasioned  to  societies  and  indivi- 
duals -  the  impracticable  schemes  she  has  devised — 
the  wise  ones  she  has  ruined  —and  the  millions  she  has 
expended  without  profit  ?  Would  room  be  left,  think 
you,  for  reflections  on  the  expense  of  education  ? 

"What  if  5m  too  were  to  confess  her  fiendish  depre- 
dations on  human  prosperity  ?  Let  idleness  and  fraud 
and  intemperance,  with  their  myriads  of  kindred  vices, 
unroll  to  our  view  the  grinding  imposts  which  they 
lay  upon  this  broad  land,  subjecting  all,  though  not  all 
alike,  to  exactions  without  number.  Let  vice,  I  say, 
and  ignorance,  give  us,  in  respect  to  this  matter,  the 
truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  hut  the  truth,  and 
we  should  all  agree,  that  the  most  profitable  internal 
improvements  which  can  bless  this  or  any  other  land, 
are  those  which  elevate  the  intellectual  and  moral  con- 
dition of  the  people.  Provide  for  the  thorough  educa- 
tion and  instruction  of  the  successive  generations  of 
our  citizens,  and  they  will  be  safely  intrusted  with  the 
mighty  interests  of  our  country.  I  say  of  our  country. 
To  all  nations,  probably,  this  is  a  phrase  of  deep 
interest  and  tender  endearment.  Every  Christian  citi- 
zen certainly  of  every  land  feels  its  thrilling  import. 

"  A  Swiss  or  a  Hollander,  a  French  or  an  English 
patriot,  may  well  think  seriously  of  the  land  that  gave 
him  birth,  and  of  the  privileges  he  would  transmit  to 
the  future  generations  of  its  citizens.  He  does  well  in 
makintrthecrreatest  sacrifices  to  secure  to  them  a  liberal 
government,' a  pure  morality,  and  the  free  exercise  of 
that  religion  that  cometh  down  from  heaven.  But 
what  is  Switzerland,  or  Holland,  or  Britain,  or  France,  in 
prospect,  compared  with  this  vast  Confederacy  of  Sove- 
reign States ;  or  with  this  one  valley,  sweeping  from 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  395 

the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Northern  Lakes,  and  from 
the  Alleghanies  to  the  bases  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  ? 
What  the  numerous  nations  that  occupy  those  coun- 
tries, compared  with  the  clustering  millions  that  must 
soon  fill  to  overflowing  the  sublimest  dwelling-place 
for  earth's  population  on  which  the  sun  ever  shone  ? 

"  Our  Country !  Other  lands  are  provinces.  The 
world  might  afford  to  lose  them.  Humanity  would 
weep  indeed — would  bleed  at  their  amputation;  but 
the  wound  would  not  be  fatal  while  there  should  be 
hope  remaining  for  our  country. 

"  Let  me  not  be  accused  of  dealing  in  empty  de- 
clamation. The  great  valley  that  we  inhabit  contains 
ample  space  and  fertility  of  soil,  to  sustain  from  two  to 
three  hundred  millions  of  inhabitants.  Our  children  of 
the  second  generation  will  see  the  half  of  that  number 
spread  over  its  immense  regions,  giving  character  to 
the  United  States,  and  rolling  an  irresistible  social  and 
moral  influence  over  the  face  of  the  whole  earth. 

"  This  is  our  country.  It  is  certain  that  it  involves 
greater  interests  in  prospect,  more  solemn  destinies  to 
mankind,  than  were  ever  before,  since  the  days  of  mir- 
acles, intrusted  to  the  keeping  of  one  nation.  And 
yet  I  am  persuaded,  that  the  character  of  the  next  and 
every  successive  generation  of  our  citizens,  will  be  just 
what  their  intellectual,  moral,  and  religious  education 
shall  make  them.  These  are  the  circumstances  which 
should  thrill  the  bosom  of  every  American  citizen,  when 
he  thinks  of  his  country.  He  should  think,  with  fear 
and  trembling,  of  the  responsibilities  devolved  upon 
him,  to  contribute  his  portion  of  the  elevating  influences, 
which  may  give  this  nation  an  eminence  in  w4iatever 
is  morally  great  and  lovely;  that  shall  make  it  the 


396  MEMOIR   OF 

glory  of  all  lands.  All  this  can,  with  the  blessing  of 
Almighty  God,  be  realized.  Providence  has  placed 
the  moral  lever,  fellow  citizens !  in  our  hands.  We  have 
but  to  put  forth  our  utmost  endeavors,  with  our  hearts 
lifted  to  him  for  direction  and  success,  and  we  shall  see 
the  work  go  forward.  Our  institutions  of  freedom, 
our  high  religious  privileges,  with  the  blessing  that 
giveth  life,  will  go  down  to  posterity  ;  and  the  mighty 
hosts  of  educated  and  sanctified  minds  that  successively 
rise  and  fill  this  new  world,  will  proclaim  us  blessed. 
And  the  freed  and  renovated  nations  will  echo  back 
the  response,  the  whole  world  shall  repeat,  that  we  are 
blessed. 

"  But  this  sublime  result  can  be  secured  nowhere  on 
the  globe  save  in  this  valley ;  and  by  no  philanthro- 
pists save  our  own  educated  children.  Others  may  aid 
in  the  holy  cause.  The  benevolence  of  many  lands 
may  cast  in  its  oflferings  of  gold  and  consecrated  talent 
and  fervent  prayer  to  him,  who  holds  in  his  hands  the 
destiny  of  nations.  But  on  the  rising  institutions  of  the 
West,  on  our  own  generous  citizens  and  wise  legisla- 
tors and  faithful  teachers,  is  laid  the  burden  of  this 
great  service. 

"  On  you,  young  gentlemen !  in  common  with  our 
most  enlightened  youth,  is  a  large  measure  of  this  re- 
sponsibility devolved.  The  chira  is  on  high.  God 
grant  that  your  last  account  may  nobly  answer  to 
it;  and  to  each  of  you  a  voice,  sweeter  than  of 
angels,  may  t)ien  be  heard  to  say, — '  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord.'  We  meet  no  more  in  the  hall  of  instruction, 
perhaps  not  again  in  the  sanctuary  ;  but  I  tender  you 
all,  in  the  name  of  my  beloved  associates,  our  most 


REV.  DR.    BALDWIN.  397 

affectionate  wishes  for  your  prosperity  and  usefulness. 
Iterwnque,  jiivcnes  dilexti,valete,  valete.^' 

With  this  noble  appeal  to  the  young  men  of  the 
West,  he  closed  his  public  labors  in  the  college.  May 
it  meet  with  a  noble  response  from  all  those  for  whom 
he  designed  it. 

The  season  of  recreation  now  commenced,  W'hen  the 
wearied  professor  and  student  ordinarily  seek  relaxation 
from  exhausting  study,  and  renewed  health  for  future 
toil.  But  such  seasons  Dr.  Baldwin  had  never  known. 
To  him  the  vacation  brought  new  and  laborious  duties, 
as  he  regarded  them.  In  company  with  an  agent  of 
the  college,  we  presently  see  him  threading  his  way 
through  the  wilderness  and  over  the  w^ide  prairies  of 
the  North.  On  the  third  Sabbath  of  August  he  is  seen 
discoursing  of  heaven  to  the  people  of  La  Fayette. 
On  Tuesday  he  proceeds  up  the  Wabash,  and  at  night 
is  at  Delphi :  the  next  day  finds  him  at  Logansport,  the 
following  at  Rochester  on  the  north  ;  Friday  leaves 
him  at  "  Our  House,"  (so  the  sign  says,)  and  on  Satur- 
day evening  he  is  at  home  in  La  Porte,  "  sitting,"  as  he 
tells  his  "  dearest"  friend,  "  in  a  nice  little  chamber 
appropriated  to  my  use  while  I  stay  in  town.  As  I 
opened  the  door  of  the  house  the  lady  exclaimed — '  Is 
it  possible  !  it  's  my  dear  pastor  !' "  It  proved  to  be 
one  of  his  spiritual  children  from  New- York,  who  had 
married,  and  removed  to  that  place  with  her  husband. 

"  I  am  requested,"  he  adds,  "  to  stay  in  La  Porte 
over  the  Sabbath  and  preach.  I  expect  also  to  comply 
with  the  invitation.  The  church  here  is  old-school,  but 
my  reception  has  not  been  on  that  account  the  less  cor- 
dial.    I  see  a  very  beautiful  country  around  me.     The 


398  M e:\ioiii  of 

town  of  La  Porte  is  pleasantl}-  situated,  with   half  as 
many  houses  as  Crawfordsville. 

"I  expect  to  leave  La  Porte  on  Monday  for  Michi- 
gan-City ;  thence  to  visit  South-Bend,  and  thence  turn 
our  steps  towards  home.  The  next  Sabbath  may  be 
spent  in  Rochester. 

"  I  cannot  say  whether  the  results  of  our  visit  to  the 
village  will  be  much  or  little  to  the  college.  The  peo- 
ple say,  the  times  are  most  distressing.  The  wheat 
crop  is  mostly  cut  off  by  blight,  and  there  is  no  money 
in  the  country." 

From  South-Bend,  on  the  27th,  he  writes  again  :  — 
"  We  arrived  in  this  town  two  days  since  from  Michi- 
gan-City. We  remained  there  from  Monday  till  Wed- 
nesday morning,  and  were  treated  with  much  hospi- 
tality. I  preached  once,  and  gave  the  citizens  a  talk 
on  the  subject  of  education.  The  distance  from  Mich- 
igan-City to  this  town  is  thirty-four  miles.  We  rode 
the  half  of  the  way  in  the  rain,  but  have  experienced 
no  serious  inconvenience  from  being  wet.  South-Bend 
is  a  very  pretty  place,  almost  as  large  as  Crawfords- 
ville,and  somewhat  better  built.  It  stands,  as  you  will 
see  from  the  map,  on  the  river  St.  Joseph,  at  the  south- 
ernmost point  of  its  course.  It  is  this  last  circumstance 
which  gives  the  town  the  name  of  South-Bend.  The 
town  plot  is  beautiful.  It  lies  alongside  of  the  river,  is 
elevated  above  it  some  forty  feet,  and  of  a  dry  soil, 
similar  to  Terre-Haute.  The  people  appear  to  be  intel- 
ligent and  industrious,  but,  like  those  of  La  Porte,  are 
pressed  under  (he  pecuniary  embarrassment  of  the  coun- 
try. The  wheat-crop  throughout  this  region,  has  failed 
almost   entirely.     Mr.   B.,  the  Presbyterian  pastor,  is 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  399 

sick,  with  most  of  his  family,  of  a  remittent  fever ;  but 
the  country  in  general  is  remarkably  healthy. 

"The  sickness  of  Mr.  B.,  who  is  a  friendly  man,  is 
not  a  little  of  a  disappointment  to  me,  as  it  will  prevent 
my  obtaining  much  access  to  his  congregation.  They 
are  old-school. 

"  Our  calculation  nov/  is  to  leave  here  to-morrow 
morning;  pass  the  Sabbath  at  Plymouth,  and  reach 
home  on  Friday.  I  am  beginning  to  think  of  home  as 
the  very  best  place,  and  containing  the  best  friends  !  I 
try  to  think  that  you  are  getting  on  prosperously  in  my 
absence. 

"  We  have  reason  to  think  that  the  journey  will  not 
be  useless  to  the  college,  though  little  will  be  effected 
on  behalf  of  the  most  needful  thing,  the  funds  of  the 
institution." 

During  this  visit  to  the  North  of  the  State,  he 
preached  in  season  and  out  of  season,  and  as  opportu- 
nity offered,  addressed  the  people  on  the  blessings  of 
Education.  Arriving  at  home  early  in  September,  he 
shortly  after  attended  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  30 
miles  distant  from  Crawfordsville.  Several  times  on 
this  occasion  he  preached  with  his  usual  earnestness, 
and  acceptableness.  On  the  Sabbath,  previous  to  the 
administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  as  the  Presbytery 
were  about  to  part,  he  preached  from  the  words, — "  If 
the  Son,  therefore,  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free 
indeed." 

In  1837,  he  had  written  to  a  friend — ^'  I  am  very 
likely  to  fall  a  sacrijice  to  the  labors  and  anxieties  of  my 
present  situation  !^^  He  had  now  returned  from  his 
long  and  arduous  tour  in  behalf  of  the  college,  and  from 
the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  early  in  September,  with  the 


400  MEMOIR    OF 

appearance  of  excellent  health.  To  his  family  and  friends 
he  remarked  that  he  had  never  enjoyed  better  health 
in  all  his  life.  The  process  of  acclimation  seemed  to 
have  been  completed,  and  his  bodily  vigor  confirmed. 
He  had  himself  probably  forgotten  the  apprehension 
that  he  had  expressed  nearly  three  years  before. 

But  on  the  12th  of  September,  it  became  apparent 
that  the  bilious  fever  of  the  West  had  again  fastened 
itself  upon  his  system.  For  some  days  the  symptoms 
were  rather  favorable.  JNIedicine  appeared  to  have 
the  desired  effect.  The  encouragement,  however,  was 
only  transient.  Typhoid  symptoms  succeeded,  and  con- 
tinued for  several  days,  and  then  in  turn  seemed  to  pass 
away.  Hope  was  now  high  that  he  would  recover. 
For  some  days  he  appeared  to  be  convalescent. 

But  the  disease  had  seriously  affected  his  nervous 
system.  After  the  first  week  he  himself  indulged  but 
little  hopes  of  his  recovery.  He  seemed  to  be  intent 
upon  arranging  his  temporal  concerns  for  the  solemn 
exchange  that  he  anticipated  to  be  at  hand.  At  first,  in 
view  of  leaving  the  college-enterprise  in  its  infant 
state,  and  his  own  beloved  family  with  so  little  provi- 
sion for  the  future,  he  experienced  a  severe  conflict. 
But  his  faith  gained  the  victory,  and  he  became  deeply 
solemn.  His  mind  could  in  no  way  be  diverted  from 
eternal  things.  He  felt  that  he  had  done  with  earth, 
and  his  great  question  was, — "  Is  there  a  possibility  of 
my  being  deceived  with  regard  to  my  hope  of  sal- 
vation ?"   , 

During  the  greater  part  of  his  illness  his  mind  was 
more  or  less  deranged.  Even  in  his  most  lucid  inter- 
vals, he  often  bore  the  appearance  of  superannuation. 
Of  this  he  himself  seemed  to  be  conscious,  and,  there- 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  401 

fore,  refrained  the  more  from  conversation.  His  pow- 
ers of  utterance  also  failed  him  to  such  a  degree  that  it 
was  with  difficulty,  towards  the  close  of  his  illness,  that 
he  could  make  known  his  common  wants. 

When,  however,  his  disease  allowed  it,  he  expressed 
the  utmost  resignation  to  the  will  of  God,  as  well  as 
faith  in  his  Redeemer.  The  only  fear  that  he  mani- 
fested seemed  to  be,  lest  there  might  be  some  pride  of 
heart  remaining,  of  which  he  earnestly  desired  to  be 
completely  stripped.  To  the  question — "  Do  you  not 
hope  to  be  able  to  preach  the  gospel  again  ?" — he  re- 
plied, in  view  of  some  favorable  symptoms  of  his  dis- 
ease, "  Oh  !  yes  ;  it  is  the  only  thing  worth  living  for." 
After  that  he  became  convinced  that  his  recovery  was 
not  to  be  expected.  He  said  on  one  occasion, — "  My 
friends  are  doing  all  they  can  to  raise  me,  but  it  cannot 
be !"  It  was  uttered  with  as  much  calmness  as  though 
he  had  spoken  of  returning  health. 

It  was  deemed  best  by  his  physicians  that  the  utmost 
quiet  should  be  preserved  in  his  chamber,  that  nothing 
might  excite  his  nerves.  Little  therefore  was  said  to 
him  even  when  he  was  able  to  converse.  Day  after 
day,  and  night  after  night,  his  friends  watched  around 
him,  with  little  or  no  converse  about  spiritual  things. 
But  though  he  spake  not,  for  hours  often,  his  meek  and 
placid  countenance  was  enough.  The  same  heavenly 
smile  with  which  he  was  accustomed  in  health  to  greet 
a  friend  and  even  a  stranger,  played  upon  his  features 
and  told  of  a  heart  at  peace. 

To  a  revered  father  in  the  ministry  in  answer  to  a  ques- 
tion, he  rephed — "  I  cannot  talk  much  with  you  now, 
especially  on  the  subject  of  religion  ;  it  excites  me  too 
much.     Pray  for  me:  I  want  peace — great  peace;  I 


402  MEMOIPw   OF 

am  unworthy  of  it."  And  he  wept  aloud.  When  he 
spake  of  himself,  it  w^as  as  of  a  poor  sinner  whose  only 
hope  was  in  the  mercy  of  God  through  Jesus  Christ. 
All  his  services,  his  labors,  self-denials  and  sacrifices,  for 
his  Savior's  sake,  were  nothing  thought  of  in  that  hour. 

When  any  allusion  was  made  to  the  separation  from 
those  whom  he  so  dearly  loved,  he  would  direct  his 
weeping  family  to  the  promises  of  a  covenant-keeping 
God,  and  turn  away  to  hide  his  deep  emotion.  On  one 
occasion,  being  roused  from  a  stupor  of  several  hours, 
by  the  voice  of  weeping,  and  learning  that  his  mother- 
in-law  was  sobbing  on  his  account,  he  exclaimed, — "  Is 
it  possible  ?  The  grace  of  God  is  sufficient  for  you, 
mother ! — and  you  have — I  believe  you  have — it."  To 
his  dear  companion  he  said — "  God  will  take  care  of 
you — he  will  take  care  of  you  all." 

On  Saturday,  Oct.  10th,  when  Professor  H.  was 
standing  by  his  bed-side,  he  expressed  his  strong  con- 
viction that  he  was  about  to  die.  "  And  now,  my  dear 
brother  !"  he  added,  "  the  crisis  has  come  :  I  shall  die ; 
and  I  wish  to  say  to  you  and  to  the  world — my  trust  is 
in  God.  I  am  a  poor  sinner.  I  am  willing  to  be  hum- 
bled before  the  Universe.  My  reliance  is  upon  Christ 
alone."  He  then  desired  his  friends,  all  of  them,  to 
unite  in  prayer  for  him.  He  survived  for  several  days, 
but  for  the  most  part  in  a  very  unconscious  state.  The 
sympathies  of  the  whole  community  had  become  most 
painfully  awakened  by  his  severe  affliction.  Unceas- 
ing prayer  >vas  offered  for  his  recovery,  and  hopes  en- 
tertained almost  throughout  his  sickness  that  a  favora- 
ble change  would  yet  take  place. 

When,  however,  it  became  evident  that  he  must  die, 
the  students  of  the  college  came  to  take  their  last  look 


REV.    DR.    BALDWIN.  403 

of  their  beloved  instructor.  The  scene  was  over- 
powering and  indescribable.  After  he  had  lain  for 
some  time  apparently  unconscious,  and  his  departure 
was  looked-for,  every  moment,  he  suddenly  revived,  and 
with  a  cheerful  smile  recognized  the  friends  that  stood 
around  him,  calling  them  by  name.  He  expressed  to 
them  that  he  had  great  peace  of  mind.  When  one 
asked — "  Have  you  any  message  for  the  students  ?" — 
his  reply  was, — "  Tell  them  to  seek  first  the  kingdom,  of 
God  j  my  hearfs  desire  and  prayer  to  God  is,  that  they 
may  be  saved.^^  With  the  exception  of  a  single  word 
in  answer  to  a  question,  these  were  his  "  last  words." 
He  gradually  sunk  away  until  Thursday,  the  15th  of 
October,  when  it  pleased  God  to  take  him  to  himself. 


ADDENDA. 


After  the  preceding  pages  had  gone  to  the  press,  the  compiler 
of  this  Memoir  became  acquainted,  for  the  first  lime,  with  two 
excellent  publications  that  were  written  by  Mr.  Baldwin  for  the 
American  Sunday-School  Union.  The  former  is  entitled, — "  The 
Five  Apprentices,'''  and  appears  tohave  been  written  and  publish- 
ed in  the  year  1828.  It  is  an  admirable  specimen  of  juvenile  in- 
struction. In  a  very  free  and  easy  manner  he  represents  iwo  of 
these  apprentices  as  holding  several  dialogues  with  each  other,  in 
the  course  of  which,  the  one  who  is  previously  pious  succeeds  in 
inducing  the  other  to  forsake  the  company  of  his  wicked  com- 
rade, and  become  a  decided  Christian.  The  fate  of  the  other 
three  is  presented  in  the  course  of  these  conversations  in  such  a 
light  as  to  show  in  vivid  contrast  the  different  ends  of  the  saint 
and  the  sinner.  It  is  an  admirable  book  to  put  into  the  hands  of 
young  lads  in  our  cities;  and  not  less  adapted  to  lead  any  juvenile 
mind  into  a  clear  knowledge  of  the  plan  of  salvation. 

The  latter  is  called — "  Tke  Young  Free-Thinker  Reclaimed,'' 
and  was  written  also  for  the  Sunday-School  Union.  The  design 
of  the  writer  is  to  reclaim  a  youth  of  sixteen,  who  had  become  in- 
fected with  the  current  infidelity  of  the  last  twenty  years.  By 
means  of  a  dialogue  between  the  youth  and  his  former  Sunday- 
School  Teacher,  he  in  a  very  sprightly  and  striking  manner,  first 
answers  the  common  objections  of  infidels  to  the  Bible,  and  then 
adduces  the  principal  evidences  of  Christianity,  in  a  style  of 
language  and  argument  eminently  fitted  to  carry  conviction  to 
the  youthful  reader.  It  is  questionable,  indeed,  whether  this  lit- 
tle book  would  not  carry  conviction  to  infidels  of  any  age.  They 
would  find  it  difficult  to  obviate  the  course  of  illustration  and  de- 
monstration with  which  it  abounds.  It  will  doubtless  be  the 
means  of  saving  many  a  youth  from  the  error  of  his  ways. 


DATE  DUE 

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GAYLO(»0 

PntNTCOINU.t.A. 

